Editor’s Note: This post is part of our series on marker bills and the 2018 Farm Bill. You can track the farm bill’s progress through Congress here and elsewhere on this blog. Farmers face a uniquely high amount of risk. An unexpected drought, an influx of pests, or a lower than expected crop yield can all have devastating effects on…
One marker bill currently before the House Agriculture Committee, the Crop Insurance Modernization Act, proposes some of the same reforms to crop insurance as FBLE’s report on Productivity and Risk Management. One of its proposals involves strengthening incentives in crop insurance contracts for farmers to integrate better conservation practices into their regular operations. The bill, also known as H.R. 4865,…
This is the fourth post in FBLE’s series on the Local FARMS Act. The Local FARMS Act, a 2018 Farm Bill marker bill introduced by Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), includes a variety of programs that would support the growth of local food economies. One proposed provision intends to bolster the amount of local…
On September 7, 2017, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) introduced legislation entitled the Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017 (H.R. 3699). The bill would “promote and enhance” urban agricultural practices and provide assistance for organizations and individuals looking to create or expand urban agriculture projects in their communities. Why Does the Bill Matter? Urban agriculture is a response to the growing…
This is the third post in FBLE’s series on the Local FARMS Act. One of the newest trends in agricultural policy is testing the effects of produce prescriptions. Forget the intimidating pharmacy counters, lines, and lab coats, doctors in select pilots are writing scripts for patients to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at their local farmers’ markets. The idea…
This is the second post in FBLE’s series on the Local FARMS Act. As Congress prepares to pass a new farm bill next year, a number of marker bills have been introduced in the House and Senate in hopes of being included in the omnibus piece of legislation. One such marker bill is the Local Food and Regional Markets Supply…
This is the first post in FBLE’s series on the Local FARMS Act. The mutualistic relationship between “urban” and “rural” is a prevalent theme throughout the United States history. The wealth of the nation’s rural resources has driven the growth of the its urban centers. However, for the first time in its history, the nation’s rural areas have seen…
Last month, Congressman David Young of Iowa introduced the Water Quality Conservation Act of 2017 (WQCA). The WQCA is a “marker bill” that seeks to address the issues of nutrient loss, soil erosion and runoff. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, nutrient loss poses a major threat to agriculture and erosion presents the most significant threat of…