Spring, 1991 (v3n3)
by Dave Chaney & Dave Campbell SAREP
After much deliberation and negotiation, the 1990 Farm Bill was
finally passed by Congress late last year. It contains new and
revised provisions that may be of interest to California farmers.
Critics argue that, like the 1985 Farm Bill, the new regulations
still favor medium to large-scale farmers, leaving small and beginning
farmers at a disadvantage. Nonetheless, the new bill takes some
positive steps toward reducing penalties for farm diversification,
rewarding land stewardship, and establishing new agricultural
research and extension priorities. A synopsis of the major environmental
and consumer-oriented provisions follows.
State, Private Forestry: The Forest Stewardship Act of
1990 includes various incentive and assistance programs to conserve
and maintain existing forest lands. The America the Beautiful
Program is established to promote tree planting.
Fruits, Vegetables, Marketing: The new Farm This portion
of the Farm Bill authorizes a research program to look at the
impact of federal cosmetic grade standards on pesticide use in
producing fresh fruits and vegetables. It also establishes new
procedures for setting cosmetic standards. The new process will
take into account potential effects of cosmetic standards on farmers'
ability to reduce pesticide use. It also allows the public to
give input on new or revised standards.
Agricultural Trade: One of the highlights of this title
of the Farm Bill is a "debt for nature" swap program
aimed at Latin American and Caribbean countries. It authorizes
a reduction of food aid debt owed to Unites States in exchange
for programs that conserve natural resources in the designated
regions. Participating countries would enter into a specific
agreement with the United States: Instead of repaying the U.S.
government in dollars, the country would direct interest on the
reduced debt to an Environmental Fund that could only be used
for programs that enhance the environment.
Research: A new statement of purpose of the research and
extension system is set forth, that gives greater prominence
to sustainable agriculture concerns. Among the specific goals
are "expanding economic opportunities in rural America and
enhancing the quality of life for farmers, rural citizens, and
society as a whole; developing information and systems to enhance
the environment and the natural resource base upon which a sustainable
agriculture economy depends; fostering the availability and affordability
of a safe, wholesome, and nutritious food supply that meets the
needs and preferences of the consumer; assisting farmers and other
rural residents in the detection and prevention of health and
safety concerns." (Summary of Title 16, 1990 Farm Bill)
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education subtitle expands
the current USDA Low-Input Sustainable Agriculture (LISA) Program,
and authorizes $40 million annually for LISA-funded research.
There is a big difference, of course, between authorization and
appropriation. The actual increase in LISA funding is dependent
on the outcome of current negotiations in Congress. (LISA is
also renamed BUBA, Best Utilization of Biological Applications,
although use of new name is uncertain.)
In addition to LISA, two new research programs are authorized,
each with a $20 million funding authorization for every year 1991-1995.
The first, integrated management systems, directs the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish research and dissemination
of information related to farming operations, practices, and systems
that improve crop and livestock production that are environmentally
sound. The second, sustainable agriculture technology development
and transfer programs, requires that technical guides, handbooks,
and other materials be written to help farmers develop more sustainable
farming systems. Included in the authorization are funds for direct
training of extension agents and other professionals at regional
training centers devoted to sustainable agriculture methods.
No funds have been appropriated for these programs so far.
Organic Certification: This new title establishes a program
to develop national standards governing the production, processing
and labeling of organically produced food. It will be funded
mainly through user fees paid by organic farmers and certifying
agents, and will fall under the administration of the USDA. Farmers
and processors who want to use an organic label for their products
after October 1, 1993 must have their operation certified organic
by a state or private certifying agent accredited by the USDA:
They will also have to comply with the organic standards developed
by the new National Organic Standards Board. The basis for these
standards will be a list of approved substances and compounds
for use by organic farmers. National standards will not preempt
stricter state organic programs.
Commodity Programs: A major revision to the general commodity
programs (cotton, wheat, corn, rice) is that land idled under
the set-aside (acreage reduction) programs should be planted to
an annual or perennial cover crop. A farmer participating in
the acreage reduction program is required to plant a cover crop
on at least half of the set-aside acres (but not more than five
percent of the acreage base) established for that crop. This
requirement does not apply to arid, summer-fallow areas where
cover crops could deplete soil moisture needed for crop production.
Cost-share assistance is available to farmers who establish a
perennial cover crop (multi-year set-aside) for the purposes of
improving water quality or wildlife habitat.
Other related sections increase farmers' flexibility to diversity
their normal rotations and plant other non-program crops. For
example, the 1990 Farm Bill permits farmers to plant and
harvest specified non-program crops on the acreage base established
for a program commodity without reducing that commodity's
acreage base. A planting limit of 25 percent of the acreage
base is being recommended. Alternate crops could include oilseed,
industrial or experimental crops.
Conservation: This section of the Farm Bill contains numerous
subtitles and chapters related to sustainable agriculture. Major
components of the conservation title include: Highly erodible
land and wetland conservation; agricultural water quality incentives;
programs for environmental easement, watershed protection, flood
control, integrated farm management, resource conservation, Great
Plains Conservation, state water quality coordination; administration
of environmental programs; Agricultural Council on Environmental
Quality; water quality research, education and coordination; water
quality and nutrient management research; and pesticide record
keeping.
Some of the most significant progress toward more sustainable
farming practices is found in the new Integrated Farm Management
Program Option (IFMPO). Under the IFMPO, farmers will be eligible
to receive program payments for resource-conserving (non-pro-gram)
crops planted on a portion of the base acres. Different from
commodity provision planting flexibility noted above, this option
also allows some harvesting on set-aside acres. According to
the law, resource-conserving crops include: forage legumes, any
legume grown for forage or green manure, legume/small grain mixtures,
legume/grass mixtures, and legume/grass/small grain mixtures.
Benefits of the program are:
- The commodity acreage base will not be reduced when a resource-conserving crop is planted on base acres.
- Program payment yields cannot be reduced even if a temporary yield decline results during the transition to a new cropping system.
- Deficiency payments will be made on resource-con-serving crops as if the program crop had been planted. Restrictions on haying or grazing the resource-conserving crop apply.
- Farmers may hay or graze a resource-conserving crop on 50 percent of set-aside acres, without restriction. Non-program small grains (e.g. buckwheat, rye, triticale) interplanted with legumes may also be harvested for grain on these set-aside acres. Alternatively, cover crops grown for seed may be planted.
Since the specific rules and regulations governing the different
commodity and cost-share programs are still being hammered out,
contact your local office of the USDA Soil Conservation Service
(SCS) or Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS)
for details about signing up and compliance.
Information for this article came from three publications:
Farm Program Options Guide to sustainable agriculture and
conservation aspects of the 1990 Farm Bill. Available for $3.00
from the Center for Rural Affairs, P.O. Box 405, Walthill, NE
68067.
1990 Farm Bilk Environmental and Consumer Provisions. Vol.1 Statutory Language, Vol. II Detailed
Summary. Published by the Center for Resource Economics and Island Press, P.O. Box 7, Covelo, CA
95428. $24.95 plus $3.00 postage and handling for the
set.
Summary of Title 16, 1990 Farm Bill. Prepared by Kathleen
Merrigan. Free from Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition
& Forestry, attention Kathleen Merrigan, 647 Dirksen Senate
Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510. Send postcard specifically
requesting this summary or call (202) 224-5207.
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