By Crystal Swann
August 13, 2007

On July 27, by a vote of 231-191, The House passed a five-year overhaul of agricultural policy that would increase spending on nutrition programs, increase support for fruit and vegetable growers, bolster land conservation efforts and impose new limits on crop subsidies.

As the focus of the political debate remains farm subsidies for wealthy farmers, it should be noted that two-thirds of that $286 billion goes toward more – and healthier – food to schoolchildren at home and to the hungry abroad.

The bill gives $4 billion more to the federal food stamp program that helps feed the 25 million hungry Americans. The 1996 Welfare Reform Act had significantly scaled back food stamps, giving the average individual a stipend of $21 a week – or $1 a meal. The farm bill would belatedly adjust the stipends for inflation and provide more money to food banks, which supply food pantries and soup kitchens. The legislation also helps in US hunger-aid programs by allocating $840 million.

Additionally, the House significantly expanded fruit and vegetable school snack programs and set aside nearly $2 billion for farmers to grow “specialty” crops that fall outside the big five of corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice. Much of that money will go to small organic farming.