2018 Farm Bill
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| 2018 Farm Bill | |
|---|---|
 U.S. Government · Public domain · source | |
| Title | 2018 Farm Bill |
| Enacted by | 115th United States Congress |
| Enacted | December 20, 2018 |
| Public law | Public Law 115–334 |
| Introduced | House of Representatives and Senate versions reconciled by Congressional conference committee |
| Signed by | Donald Trump |
| Agencies | United States Department of Agriculture, Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office |
2018 Farm Bill The 2018 Farm Bill is the five-year omnibus agricultural and food policy statute enacted by the 115th United States Congress and signed by Donald Trump that reauthorized and revised programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. It followed prior omnibus farm laws such as the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and the Agricultural Act of 2014, and set policy for commodities, WIC, conservation, rural development, and research through fiscal years 2019–2023. The bill influenced stakeholders including National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, and state departments like the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Background and Legislative History
Negotiations arose after the expiration of the Agricultural Act of 2014, with debates in the United States House Committee on Agriculture and United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Major legislative actors included Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, Pat Roberts, Steny Hoyer, Collin Peterson, and Debbie Stabenow, with floor action in both chambers and conference negotiations led by representatives and senators from farm states such as Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, and Georgia. Policy proposals reflected competing priorities advanced by groups like the Farmers’ Legal Action Group, Food Research & Action Center, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and advocacy coalitions associated with agribusiness firms including Bayer AG, Monsanto Company, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Congressional scorekeeping cited analyses from the Congressional Budget Office and oversight reports from the Government Accountability Office.
Major Provisions
The statute encompassed title-by-title authorizations affecting crop insurance programs administered through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, commodity programs linked to price supports and safety nets, nutrition program reauthorizations for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program stakeholders, and conservation measures engaging the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It expanded research funding to institutions like Land-grant university systems including Iowa State University, Texas A&M University, and University of California, Davis, and modified trade-related authorities touching on agencies such as the United States Trade Representative and United States Department of Commerce. The bill also addressed rural broadband initiatives tied to Rural Utilities Service grants and loans, and contained provisions affecting disaster assistance coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Nutrition Programs and SNAP Changes
Nutrition titles reauthorized SNAP while maintaining work requirements debated by members of House Freedom Caucus, Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats, and advocates including Feeding America and Bread for the World. Modifications included demonstration authority affecting state agencies such as the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Florida Department of Children and Families, with pilots proposed in regions like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi. The bill preserved funding for WIC and school meal programs administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, and directed evaluation by the Food and Nutrition Service and reporting to Congress and the Government Accountability Office.
Commodity Programs and Price Support
Commodity titles continued reference price options and market loss assistance through programs like Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage implemented by the Farm Service Agency. Risk management policies integrated with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation influenced producers of corn, soybean, wheat, rice, and specialty commodities grown in states including Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Arkansas. Provisions affected program eligibility for farms under Conservation Compliance requirements and tied payments to acreage reporting with enforcement by county committees under the Farm Service Agency. The bill also modified sugar policy and international marketing assistance administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
Conservation, Forestry, and Environmental Measures
Conservation titles adjusted programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Forestry provisions funded initiatives through the United States Forest Service and affected state forestry agencies like the Texas A&M Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Wildlife habitat, wetlands protection, and working lands conservation measures engaged advocacy by Ducks Unlimited, The Wildlife Society, and environmental groups including the Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy, and required coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hemp, Hemp-Derived CBD, and Hemp Policy Changes
The statute removed hemp from schedules controlled under prior federal statute affecting Drug Enforcement Administration regulation, defined hemp under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 framework, and granted primary regulatory authority to United States Department of Agriculture for hemp production plans submitted by states like Colorado, Kentucky, and Oregon. This change prompted regulatory actions by the Food and Drug Administration regarding hemp-derived cannabidiol and labeling claims, and influenced companies such as CV Sciences and Charlotte's Web Holdings. The alteration spurred state legislation in jurisdictions including Florida, Maine, and New York and trade discussions with European Union counterparts and exporters in nations like Canada.
Implementation, Funding, and Congressional Oversight
Implementation relied on appropriations processes interacting with annual funding enacted via United States appropriations bills and program administration by the United States Department of Agriculture, with audits and oversight by the Government Accountability Office and investigations by committees including the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Budgetary scoring by the Congressional Budget Office and fiscal analyses from the Office of Management and Budget informed debates on offsets and revenue estimates. Stakeholder litigation reached federal courts including the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and appellate review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concerning rulemaking and administrative interpretation.