Sustainable Food Systems Work Group

1. Sustainable Food Systems Work Group 2012 Farm Bill: Budget Context & New Policy Building Blocks Ferd Hoefner NSAC Policy Director fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net www.sustainableagriculture.net

2. National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition • alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities • by bringing grassroots perspectives to the table normally dominated by big business, NSAC levels the playing field and gives voice to sustainable and organic farmers • started in 1988; currently have 85 member organizations representing all regions of the country • work on Farm Bill, other agricultural legislation, budget and appropriations, USDA reform, some work with EPA, FDA, etc.

3. Why the Farm Bill Matters Funding and policies that impact: How food is grown What kind of food is grown Who grows it Health & wellbeing of farmers, farm workers Rural communities Rural landscapes Environment and natural resources Our diets and public health Food availability worldwide

4. 2008 Farm Bill By Title 15 “titles” in 2008 – titles are not static – e.g., 5 new ones in 2008 Farm Bill • Commodity Programs • Conservation • Trade and Food Aid • Nutrition • Credit • Rural Development • Research • Forestry • Energy(new in 2002) • Horticulture & Organic Agriculture (new in 2008) • Livestock and Competition (new in 2008) • Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance (somewhat new in 2008) • Commodity Futures (new in 2008) • Miscellaneous • Trade & Tax Provisions (new in 2008) – provided rest of bill $14.5 B in new $$ (this last title via Ways & Means and Finance Committees; unlikely to happen again)

5. Farmers’ Market Promotion Program • funds marketing proposals for community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, agritourism, and other direct marketing strategies; • farmers, non-profit corporations, agricultural cooperatives, local governments, economic development corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities • $10 million a year through 2012

6. Local and Regional Food Enterprise Guaranteed Loans • support farm and ranch incomes as well as the renewal of local food system infrastructure and community development. • establish enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, store, and market foods produced either in-state or transported less than 400 miles from the origin of the product. • approx. $50 million a year in loan volume

7. Value-Added Producer Grants • competitive grants to farmers to develop value-added producer-owned businesses • includes processed products and products produced, marketed, or segregated (e.g. identity-preserved, eco-labeling, etc.) in a manner that enhances its value or expands the customer base • also products aggregated and marketed as a locally-produced or also development of local and regional supply networks • approx. $20 million a year

8. Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative • flagship competitive grants program for organic research • research, education, and extension projects that enhance the ability of producers and processors to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products • $20 million a year through 2012

9. Specialty Crop Block Grants • grants to State Departments of Agriculture • state then can use the funds to supplement state programs or make grant funds available for projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops • wide range of topics -- food safety, food security, nutrition, trade, research, promotion, marketing, ‘‘Buy Local’’ programs, etc. • $55 million a year

10. Farm to School • part of the Child Nutrition 2010 Reauthorization • competitive grants to schools or non-profit organizations to develop purchasing relationships with local farmers, plan seasonal menus, build school gardens, develop hands-on nutrition education, and provide solutions to infrastructure problems (storage, transport, food preparation, training, etc.) • $5 million a year starting October 2012

11. Farm Bill$$ Budget Context $$ TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

16. Farm BillBudget Context Looking on Down The Road

17. The 10-Year Budget Baselines for 2011-2020 • $696 billion = SNAP & Nutrition Programs • [$204 billion = Child Nutrition school meal programs (not Farm Bill)] • $83 billion = Crop Insurance Subsidies • $65 billion = Conservation Programs • $64 billion = Commodity Subsidies • $16 billion = Everything Else Combined in Ag Co jurisdiction (not all Farm Bill) (note – these numbers, especially the top two, will change when new budget baseline released by Congressional Budget Office)

18. Multiple Bites at Farm Bill $$$ • FY 11 Continuing Resolution • FY 12 Appropriations • Budget Reconciliation • Farm Bill Proper

19. Off to Rough Start - Approps • House FY 11 CR – preposterous 22% in USDA/FDA discretionary appropriations • Plus $642 million in cuts to mandatory conservation and renewable energy programs • Obama FY 12 Budget Proposal – worse yet on conservation -- $1 billion cut to mandatory conservation programs • While Obama’s proposed conservation cuts in FY 09 and 10 were largely rejected by Congress, the politics has now shifted

20. Outcome Uncertain • Senate Votes 3/9/11 • 56-44 against HR 1 • 58-42 against Senate alternative • March 18 deadline extended to April 8 • Prelude to FY 12 • Possible prelude to Budget Reconciliation

21. Zero Baseline Problem Wetlands Reserve Program Rural Energy for America Program Grasslands Reserve Program Biomass Crop Assistance Program CRP-Transition Incentives Program Value-Added Producer Grants Rural Micro-Enterprise Assistance Organic Data Initiative National Organic Certification Cost Share Farmers Market Promotion Program Outreach and Assistance for Minority Farmers Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Program Specialty Crop Research Initiative

22. Zero Baseline - Strategy • Minimize Bleeding • Educate, educate, educate – then: • Pick and Choose – Consensus if Possible • Make each case on merits • But also package into a reinvestment portfolio • Intense focus – PROTECT OUR BASE!

23. Markers, Trial Balloons, & Strategic Initiatives • But we also need to get our best shots out there with strategically chosen sponsorstopush the envelope • In some cases, introduce as separate bills for purposes of: • Getting public discussion • Congressional organizing • Grassroots organizing • Creating sense of inevitability where possible

24. Upcoming New Marker Bills • Beginning Farmer and Rancher Initiative • Local & Regional Food System Package • Conservation Policy and Program Bill • Rural Community Prosperity Fund • Commodity Reform & Reinvestment

25. Beginning Farmer Package • Work with Vilsack’s “100,000 New Farm” Goal • Increase Funding for the Development Program • Further Improve Credit, Risk Management, and Conservation Provisions • Improve Office of Advocacy & Outreach

26. Local-Regional Food Package • Win back funding for direct marketing, value-added, organic, micro-lending • Coordinated set-asides within existing economic development programs for food infrastructure • Provide new funding avenues food hubs • Create an enterprise facilitation emphasis within Extension

27. Conservation Package • Funding for Wetlands Reserve Program • Perfecting Conservation Stewardship Program • Putting Tech Ass’t. in Sync with Financial Ass’t. • Targeting – Project-Based, Resource-Focused • Streamlining & Consolidation • Climate & Energy • Sodsaver

28. Rural Community Prosperity Fund • Dedicated, Flexible $500 Million Fund • Geared to Poverty, Outmigration, Need • Inclusive of Regional Food Development • Half of One Percent of Total Funding

29. Commodity Reform and Reinvestment Package • Comprehensive Payment Limit Reform + • Progressive Counter-Cyclical Reductions = • Deficit Reduction + Reinvestment Fund

30. Guide to Federal Funding for Local and Regional Food Systems • April 2010 – www.sustainableagriculture.net • basic information on USDA Grant and Loan Programs at RMA, AMS, NIFA, and RBCS • seeks to de-mystify some of the federal grant programs most likely to be useful to food systems’ development work and directs organizations to specific resources that can help in designing a project and writing a grant. • brief case studies • USDA contact information

31. Grassroots Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill • walks through 34 2008 Farm Bill programs most important to sustainable agriculture • “report from the trenches” of what survived the most recent farm bill fight • guide to new policies and funding opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and grassroots organizations • chapters on conservation, farming opportunities, regional food systems, rural development, organic production, research, renewable energy, competitive markets, and commodity reform. • includes 2008 changes, citations, funding levels, implementation information, contact information

32. Food Safety on the Farm: Policy Brief and Recommendations • published October 2009 • background paper for our work on what became the Food Safety Modernization Act • also published: • “A Sustainable Agriculture Perspective on Food Safety” – 11/10 • “NSAC Food Safety Amendments Explained” – 10/10 • all at www.sustainableagriculture.net under “Our Work”

33. Stay Informed! www.sustainableagriculture.net Farm Bill Guides Farm Bill Implementation Center Blogs, Weekly Round-Up & Timely Action Alerts