The Farm Bill is an important piece of legislation that affects not just farmers but also everyone who depends on a stable food supply, nutrition assistance programs, and conservation efforts. However, a recent study found that the majority of adults are not aware of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill provides support to farmers facing various challenges such as weather disasters and high supply costs, which can impact food prices and availability for everyone.
The current Farm Bill was set in 2018 and will expire in September of this year. Lawmakers have the opportunity to create new legislation to update the programs included, with one of the most significant being the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps about 290,000 families in Indiana alone. The nutrition title of the Farm Bill affects every county in the nation and provides programs for families needing extra help making their food purchasing dollars stretch.
It is important to note that if the Farm Bill expires without new legislation or if programs are not granted an extension by Congress, the bill's programs would revert to how they looked in 1949. This underscores the urgency of passing this legislation in a timely manner.
Indiana representatives and senators have been visiting their home districts to hear from their constituents and have been engaging in farm bill listening sessions to discuss upcoming legislation and advocate for programs utilized on the farm, such as crop insurance and conservation programs.
If Indiana consumers are concerned about programs covered in the Farm Bill, they are encouraged to contact their legislators sooner rather than later to advocate for a comprehensive bill that benefits all Hoosiers.
Categories: Indiana, Government & Policy