2014 Farm Bill
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| 2014 Farm Bill | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2014 Farm Bill |
| Long name | Agricultural Act of 2014 |
| Enacted by | 113th United States Congress |
| Signed by | Barack Obama |
| Signed date | 2014-02-07 |
| Public law | Public Law 113–79 |
| Preceded by | Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 |
| Succeeded by | Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 |
2014 Farm Bill The Agricultural Act of 2014 was a comprehensive United States statute enacted by the 113th United States Congress and signed into law by Barack Obama that revised federal agricultural and nutrition policy, replacing the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and setting programs through fiscal years including 2014–2018. The measure addressed commodity programs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program operations, conservation initiatives such as those shaped by the Conservation Reserve Program, and crop insurance reforms influenced by stakeholders like the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union.
Background and Legislative History
The bill emerged from negotiations among committees including the United States House Committee on Agriculture and the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, with major input from leaders such as Frank D. Lucas and Pat Roberts and after hearings involving witnesses from United States Department of Agriculture panels, the CBO and analysts from the Congressional Research Service. Debate referenced prior statutes such as the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and was shaped by events including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2012 drought that affected discussions involving the Drought of 2012 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Floor votes in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate followed conference committee negotiations between delegations led by figures like Collin Peterson and Thad Cochran.
Key Provisions
The Act restructured commodity support by creating the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage options, aligning with risk management tools akin to private market instruments used by entities such as Crop Insurance providers and reauthorizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with modifications intended to coordinate with state agencies like those in California, Texas, and New York. It reauthorized conservation programs including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, and extended research funding through institutions such as the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and partnerships with land-grant universities like Iowa State University and Cornell University. The bill also included provisions affecting specialty crops, bioenergy programs tied to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 context, and international provisions referencing World Trade Organization commitments.
Programmatic Changes and Funding
Budgetary decisions in the statute reduced baseline spending relative to prior law and reallocated savings toward Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program integrity initiatives, adjusting mandatory funding streams for Commodity Credit Corporation programs and crop insurance premium subsidies administered by the Risk Management Agency. The Congressional Budget Office scored changes against baselines established by the Office of Management and Budget, affecting outlays across programs such as the Farm Service Agency loan programs and conservation easements administered with partners like the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Implementation and Administration
Implementation relied on agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Nutrition Service, and regional Farm Service Agency offices coordinating with state partners like the California Department of Food and Agriculture and tribal authorities such as members of the Navajo Nation. Administrative guidance originated from secretarial memoranda by the United States Secretary of Agriculture and rulemaking followed the Administrative Procedure Act, with oversight hearings in the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and program reviews by the Government Accountability Office.
Political Debate and Stakeholder Reactions
Support and opposition cut across parties and interest groups: the bill received backing from major farm organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Corn Growers Association, while criticism came from anti-hunger advocates such as Feeding America and budget hawks associated with groups like the Heritage Foundation and members of the House Liberty Caucus. Debates referenced fiscal trade-offs highlighted by the Congressional Budget Office scoring and public comment from leaders including Tom Vilsack and members of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association.
Impacts and Outcomes
Short-term outcomes included shifts in program enrollment and changes in subsidy flows documented in USDA reports and analyzed by academic centers such as the Food Research & Action Center and university extension services at University of California, Davis and Ohio State University. Long-term evaluations by the Government Accountability Office and research at the Economic Research Service assessed effects on farm income variability, conservation adoption rates, and SNAP enrollment trends in states like Mississippi and Michigan. Litigation and administrative appeals involved parties such as commodity cooperatives and insurers represented before federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Amendments, Waivers, and Subsequent Legislation
Subsequent adjustments occurred via annual appropriations, waivers requested by states under authorities involving the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 administration, and later revision by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 enacted by the 115th United States Congress and signed by Donald Trump. Additional programmatic tweaks were implemented through omnibus spending packages debated in the United States Congress and informed by reports from entities like the Congressional Research Service and monitoring by federal agencies including the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Agriculture.