Anticipating The 2018 Farm Bill
House chief economist shares remarks on 2018 Farm Bill, encourages producers to be involved.
“I don’t need to tell any of you it’s a really interesting time to be living and working in Washington, D.C., right now,” said Bart Fischer as he addressed attendees Feb. 3 at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn. Fischer, who is chief economist for the House Agricultural Committee, provided remarks about the early groundwork being laid for the 2018 Farm Bill.
He shared that the first field hearing to gather feedback on Farm Bill concerns is scheduled for Feb. 23 on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, with more field hearings providing producers opportunity to give input being planned around the country throughout the spring.
Although Farm Bill talks are beginning, Fischer noted that Congress faces several other big issues in the coming year: the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, confirmation hearings for incoming President Donald Trump’s nominees, and an expanding federal deficit. He explained that each of these will take up legislative time and could shadow the Farm Bill process.
Fischer noted that in total the Farm Bill is 1.7% of the federal budget. With a $19.3 trillion debt in America, he stated, “There’s a disproportionate amount of attention paid to agriculture … We’re (agriculture) in a minority in D.C.” He shared that America’s annual interest on the national debt is 66% more than what is paid to producers via the Farm Bill crop insurance program. Thus, he suggested, cutting crop insurance programs would be an ineffective way to reduce the deficit.
However, he credited the 2014 Farm Bill for contributing $23 billion in cuts to the deficit and, he reported, that today, cuts made in the Farm Bill are saving three times more than they were projected to save.
Of the current economy — and net farm income being down 46% since 2013, Fischer said the need for a farm safety net in place via the Farm Bill is top of mind. As well, he said he anticipates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and conservation spending will continue to be important Farm Bill issues.
Looking ahead, he said addressing payment variability within Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), including dairy in the Margin Protection Program, and cotton, which was left out of the 2014 Farm Bill, will be three big topics dominating early Farm Bill conversations. As well, he said he anticipates efforts to “simplify and streamline” pasture, rangeland and forage (PRF), livestock disaster, and noninsured crop disaster assistance (NAP) programs.
Conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, which has seen drastic cuts in number of acres accepted, will also likely be a hot topic.
As the Farm Bill process begins, Fischer emphasized, “My bottom-line point to producers is that all of you need to be engaged in this process. D.C. needs to hear from you.”
Editor’s Note: Field Editor Kindra Gordon is a freelance writer and cattlewoman from Whitewood, S.D. This article was written as part of Angus Media’s coverage of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention. For further coverage, watch for future issues of the Angus Beef Bulletin or visit www.angus.media.