2012 Farm Bill Draft Released

July 9, 2012

On July 5, 2012, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) released a discussion draft of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM). Every policy under the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Agriculture was examined in a two-year process for the production of FARRM. The bipartisan bill cuts spending and reforms old policies by repealing some and consolidating others. FARRM reauthorizes food aid programs and several trade programs such as the Market Access Program (MAP), the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC), Export Credits (GSM-102), and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) for promoting U.S. exports in emerging markets.

With regard to commodity policy, FARRM streamlines and consolidates policies, repealing four programs: Direct Payments, Counter-Cyclical Payments (CCPs), the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program, and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE). FARRM also involves regulatory relief for farmers and ranchers through the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R. 872).

A committee meeting to consider the 2012 House Farm Bill will take place on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

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