By Crystal Swann
December 17, 2012

As the debate rages on about the “fiscal cliff” and the “grand bargain,” another equally important conversation is happening on Capital Hill on the future of agriculture programs. House and Senate Agriculture committee leadership are working hard to come to some agreement on the details of a new farm bill. The previous farm bill expired on September 30, leaving many nutrition programs critical to the city agriculture initiatives unauthorized and unfunded. While programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are protected, other programs such as Farm Markets, and Senior Farm Market Nutrition programs are expired.

The pressure continues to mount for Congress to include a new five-year farm agreement in any fiscal deal reached before Congress recesses for the year. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack warned that there is no alternative to enacting a new five-year law, such as passing a temporary extension. At stake are the prices of ordinary commodities, i.e. milk. Milk prices in the U.S. grocery stores could double in January without a new bill, since without reauthorization, U.S. farm policy would revert to the provisions of the last “permanent” farm bill, the Agriculture Act of 1949.

The White House has signaled that they are open to attaching a new five-year farm bill to any fiscal cliff deal if the Agriculture Committees in both Houses can come to an agreement. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has indicated in the press that she feels strongly that they are close to a deal. The Senate seems to be taking the lead while the House continues to push back on any compromise.

The Conference of Mayors in a letter to Congress outlined the cities’ priorities for the next farm bill stating that a new Farm Bill must protect human and environmental health, promote job growth and build the infrastructure needed for healthy sustainable food systems. Concluding that it should:

• Maintain current benefit levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Strengthen the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

• Assure full funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

• Expand food stamp access at farmers markets, including increase the use of Electronic Benefits

• Transfer (EBT) transactions.

• Preserve and expand the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, farm-to-cafeteria programs that bring fresh, locally grown food into school lunch programs, and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program

• Strengthen and expand agriculture conservation programs as a strategic investment in our country’s agricultural infrastructure, including improving air and water quality and the protection of urban watersheds, and requiring conservation compliance for land covered by crop insurance

• Support local and regional food system infrastructure