The Farm Bill It’s Significance to Land-Grants

New Director/Administrator Orientation Conference

Dec. 10, 2002Washington, D.C.

History of the Farm Bill

Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (P.L. 75-430)

Agricultural Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-439) Agricultural Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-690) Agricultural Act of 1956 (P.L. 84540) Food and Agricultural Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-321) Agricultural Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-524)

more history …..

Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-86)

Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-113) Agriculture and food Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-98) Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198) Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act

of 1990 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform

Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127) Federal Agricultural Research, Extension and

Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-185) Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of

2002

more history …..

Originally targeted support for several commodities over several years

Each subsequent act amends and suspends provisions of previous law; authorizes expenditures

Sets policy for some time into the future (i.e. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 scheduled to run for 6 years)

more history …..

Beginning in 1973, became omnibus farm bills with various titles including:• Title I - Commodities

• Title II- Conservation

• Title III - Trade

• Title IV - Nutrition

• Title V - Credit

• Title VI - Rural Development

• Title VII - Research

• Title VIII - forestry

• Title IX - Energy

• Title X - Miscellaneous

more history …..

Traditionally, Land-Grant Universities have worked mostly with the Research and Education title

Farm Bill Task ForceCommittee Membership Milo Shult, Chair Stan Johnson, CES Alan Woolf, BNR David Sammons, IAS Gale Buchanan, BA Budget Chair John Nye, BA Budget Vice Chair Lorenza Lyons, 1890 Extension Bobby Phills, 1890 Research Dan Dooley, CARET Meg Goetz, 1994 Tom Payne, ESS James Zuiches, AHS Margaret Weber, BoHS Dean Supthin, APS

Ex-Officio Members Terry Nipp David MacKenzie Sam Donald Tom Fretz Colien Hefferan Eddie Gouge Myron Johnsrud Al Lingg Mort Neufville

Proposed Changes

1890s• Raise funding base of formula funding for both

1862 & 1890s (25% Hatch, 15% Smith-Lever)• Reauthorize 1890 facilities Grant program at

$25M• Establish 1890 Land Grant Endowment not less

than $20M• Reauthorize the Socially Disadvantaged

Initiative Program at not less than $10M/yr.

Proposed Changes

1890s continued...• Increase state matching requirements for 1890s

to 100% by 2007 (Secretary may waive)• Reauthorize 1890 Capacity Building Grant

Program and increase funding to $25M

Proposed Changes 1994s

• Authorize multi-year funding for Extension programs

• Eligibility to compete for Section 406 funding• Change authorization levels to

• Double equity grants to $100K/institution

• Change endowment to “such sums as necessary”

• Double Extension programs to $10M

• Maintain research authorization as “such sums as necessary”

Proposed Changes 1994s continued...

• Expand accreditation requirement to include 1994 research

• Change definition ISC to simplify process for distribution of interest from Native American Endowment

• Update list of 1994 institutions (correct names)

Proposed Changes Territories

• Maintain 50% state matching requirement

• Establish authority for Secretary to waive 50% match under specific conditions

• Create a Facilities & Equipment Grants program modeled after 1890s & fund at $8M+

• Create a Capacity Building Grants program modeled after 1890s & fund at $4M+

• Create long distance Educational Grants program at $4M+

Proposed Changes Experiment Stations

• Establish mechanism to secure funding for & access to genetic resources

• Fund risk assessment research through CSREES

• Carry-over for Hatch Funding• Provide authority for equipment grants• Adjust NRI’s mandated topic areas

Proposed Changes Extension Service

• Establish programmatic & funding to link & coordinate with other USDA agencies in other titles of Farm Bill

• Expand non-classroom youth activities to take advantage of experiential learning approaches

• Establish authority to develop agricultural curriculum for K-12 & higher ed students

Proposed Changes Extension Service continued...

• Develop authority for research, extension and education to address critical issues I.e. biotechnology, bio & food safety, etc. that are not adequately addressed in other sections of Farm Bill

Proposed Changes

Academic Programs• Establish foreign embassy internships

• Establish an Education Coordinating Council

• Deleting Section 642 relating to USDA & Department of Education collaboration & reporting

• Add human capital to AREERA of 1998 priorities

• Modify requirements for Teaching Enhancement projects

• Modify working relating to grants for Pacific Islander-Serving institutions

Some successes …..

Extension of Current Programs IFAFS ramp up from $120M in FY04 to $200M

in FY07-11 (mandatory accounts) Science and Education in other Titles

• Energy: energy audit & renewable energy development

• Rural Development: rural electronic commerce Extension program

• Conservation: conservation technical assistance certification

– WHIP $700M

– EQIP $9B

– Water $600M

– CSP $2B

– TOTAL AUTHORIZATION $17.1 BILLION

More successes ….. Program Flexibility

• Carryover of Hatch funds• Joint requests for proposals• 2-year obligation for competitive grant funds• 1890 ramps up to 100 percent match

Other new funding• Increased authorization for 1890 Facility

Grants to $25M• Equipment grants• Doubled authorization for RREA to $30M

Recommendation

Formalize Farm Bill Committee within Board on Agriculture• Provide continuity - cease reinventing the

wheel• Thoughtfully address issues that require

consensus• Monitor, and as appropriate, impact rules &

regulations in USDA caused by Farm Bill directives

Current Status

Farm Bill Committee now a standing committee of the Board on Agriculture Assembly

Jeff Armstrong, Chair

Subcommittee Structure by Titles

Energy: Tom Fretz Conservation: Sam Curl Rural Development: Marc Johnson Forestry: Vance Watson Research and Education: Bobby Moser

Subcommittee Membership

Appointed by the respective chairs

Intent is to involve key faculty as well

as administrators

Final Comments

Provide continuity - cease reinventing the wheel

Thoughtfully address issues that require consensus

Monitor, and as appropriate, impact rules & regulations in USDA caused by Farm Bill directives