Responding to the social problems that affect the populations you serve as a social worker is only one aspect of the professional responsibility you must undertake. The ability to be proactive by iden

Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEM 0

The Farms Bill

Diamond Mitchell

Walden University

The reason I chose the Farm bill for this assignment is due to its significance. As discusses above, it will legalize Hemp due to which hemp agriculture will take off across the country, allowing for more hemp products to be available on the market. That’s not limited to CBD; hemp will create laundry list of sustainable resources including fabrics, paper, biofuel, bioplastics, food, oils, livestock feed, etc. These Hemp products can significantly reduce deforestation, plastic pollution and many more environmental perks (Sumner, 2003). Moreover, I consider this bill to be a relief for the farmers as there are many benefits for them in this bill. The farm bill lists some programs with permanent funding and makes major policy improvement

In summary, the bill is currently one of the most important in the nation. It affects the livelihoods of farmers as well as the amount and quality of food that is supplied for our consumption. The provisions of the bill aim to make it easier for farmers to do their work in addition to legalizing hemp. In my opinion, it is one of the most progressive bills to be enacted regarding these issues. The Farm Bill is one of the most controversial bills passed by the US Senate. It is an important bill as it impacts greatly not only on the farmers but also on the consumers in the nation as well. Aside from the issue of spending, the bill coves a variety of innovative programs that are currently altering the farming arena for farmers and consumers in America. It also includes a variety of issues such as the development of rural areas, international trade, local food systems, research, farmers who are beginners, racial equality, and forestry among others.

The most important but controversial issue in the farm bill has been how the Senate and house approached the issue of food stamps and the (SNAP) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Food stamp cuts are not included in the bill. Liberal groups are happy with this position. Negotiators seem to have struck a cross-party compromise and maintain and also supports SNAP, making sure that millions of Americans who are still struggling continue to depend on the program to help them get daily food (Dimitri, Effland, & Conklin, 2006). The Center on Policy and priority of Budgets president, Robert Greenstein indicated when giving his statement. The bill also includes revisions of SNAP, although these will not shrink the benefits to individuals. The final bill encompasses a number of new changes to the program, although none of them will restrict benefits to families.

The national Accuracy Clearinghouse may prevent people in multiple states from receiving benefits from food stamps. The final version of the farm bill does away with the award program that awarded states with $48 million per year in funding from the Federal government for performing higher in terms of accuracy of payments and access programs (Ronald D. Knutson, 1998). The savings obtained from these changes may be plowed back into nutritional assistance programs and food banks as indicated by congressional aides. The white house is not being bound by food stamps by Congress. The Trump government has shown its intent to cut the food stamp provision without Congressional approval. The farm bill has not tied the hands of White House. They go on to state that the Department of Agriculture has weakened the waivers that are given to states to do away with the requirements for food stamp work temporarily.

The farm bill included expansion of farm subsidies. The farm bill has some provisions that were passed by House Republicans, leading to the expansion of some agricultural subsidies by the federal government to nephews, nieces and the farmer’s first cousins, even if they do not directly work on the farm. The (EWG) Environmental Working Group, that keeps track of subsidies from the federal government, is against this provision, calling it a waste. Republicans in congress stated that the expansion which tracks subsidies from the federal government, has called this a wasteful act. Republicans in congress stated that the actions would sway more people to get into farming. There is no additional influence on the difference. At nearly $1 trillion per annum, the farm bill’s price tag is high. The bill drafters used baselines created by the budget office of congress as per the current levels of spending, at nearly $900 billion in the coming ten years, meaning it may not raise the deficit of the federal government from previous projections (Smith, 1992).

The bill creates a permanent fund for markets for food programs in different localities and farmers. The complete farm bill avails perpetual funds for different plans that are funded by Congress on a temporary criterion, 5 years for each time. It includes funds to promote farmers markets, organic farming research grants, and money to organizations that work to train the next farmer generations during a period when experts have raised concerns about industry aging. President Donald Trump indicated that the farm bill had support from both sides and was in great shape. He also stated that the farmers were considered well. The agreement for conferences holds the Conservation Stewardship Program by USDA, which is utilized by farm and forest landowners (Faeth, 1991). The farm bill version by the House sought to end the program but there were many reforms approved in the conference alongside funding cuts from around $1.8 billion down to $1 billion.

The bill also legalizes the growth of hemp. The farm bill makes it legal to produce hemp, which is a type of Cannabis with low levels of THC than marijuana. It is projected that the hemp industry may grow to a $20 billion industry by the year 2022. The majority leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, tabled the hemp legislation in 2018 and pushed for its inclusion in the revised farm bill. He was involved in the joint committee’s conference on the Farm bill and was among the members who signed the bill’s compromise (Monke, 2017). The provision by McConnell would effectively remove the classification of hemp from the list of controlled substances by the federal government, making it a legal agricultural product and eligible for insurance. The past farm bill of 2014, did away with strict hemp laws and enabled farmers in a number of states to cultivate the crop during research projects.

Dimitri, C., Effland, A., & Conklin, N. C. (2006). The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy. AgEcon Search, 14.

Faeth, P. R. (1991). Paying the farm bill: U.S. agricultural policy. Components Newsletter.

Monke, R. J. (2017). What Is the Farm Bill? Congressional Research Service.

Ronald D. Knutson, E. G. (1998). Southern Farmers' Exposure to Income Risk Under the 1996 Farm Bill. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 35-46.

Smith, V. K. (1992). Environmental Costing for Agriculture: Will It Be Standard Fare in the Farm Bill of 2000? American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1076-1088.

Sumner, D. A. (2003). Implications of the US Farm Bill of 2002 for agricultural trade and trade negotiations. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 99-122.