Farm Bills

Passed by Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States every five to seven years, the Farm Bill is the most significant determinant of agricultural policy in the United States. It is an omnibus legislation, addressing many food and agricultural issues. Its primary function is to authorize several hundred billion dollars in federal spending on agricultural commodity subsidies, food stamps, and rural land conservation. Each successive bill amends the prior one by introducing, eliminating, or modifying programs. Since its inception in 1933, however, the Farm Bill’s focus on farmer income support and the specificity of crops that can be subsidized has remained constant.