U.S. Legislation
As ranks of poor grow, Congress should accurately measure poverty considering changes in food costs, addition of costs for child care, health care, and regional differences in cost of living. It also must boost food stamps, modernize unemployment compensation system and strengthen governments to help those in need.
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-26 (entry)
Legislative progress on environment, energy, health care on agenda with Henry Waxman, a keen negotiator, now at helm of powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce. But: Without reform on the way we grow, process and eat food in America, there will be no significant progress on these problems or on critical issue of national security, writes Michael Pollan in letter to new farmer-in-chief Barack Obama (click 'See also').
By Julie Rovner
National Public Radio/All Things Considered 2008-11-21 (entry)
See also
With Congressional Review Act, new president's OK, lawmakers could rescind upcoming Bush administration rules that otherwise could have lasting impact on water standards, air cleanliness, among other areas. And: Last deregulation push relaxes standards for drinking water, air as well as pollution from farms, mining (click 'See also').
By Avery Palmer
CQ Politics 2008-11-06 (entry)
See also
If Congress can conjure up vast sums for Wall Street bailout, why, when we speak urgently of a fraying social net, of charities reeling and empty food pantries, of tens of millions of Americans (the types who clean the likes of AIG and Freddie Mac at night) without food and shelter, is there not a penny available? Our nation's priorities are in the wrong place.
By Joel Berg
The Washington Post 2008-09-28 (entry)
New federal poverty measure proposal accounts for diminished role of food in household spending (down from one third, in 1969, to one-eighth). New measurement includes spending on food, clothing, shelter, transportation, utilities, medical expenses and food stamps or housing subsidies. Measure determines eligibility for public assistance.
By Keith B. Richburg
The Washington Post 2008-07-14 (entry)
In fighting hunger, basic crop research pays. The U.S. needs a substantial, renewed commitment to CGIAR, the consortium of internationally funded and staffed crop-research centers around the world. And: America must rebuild, not destroy collaborative research, says father of first 'Green Revolution' (click 'See also').
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-07-09 (entry)
See also
Group pushes legislation that would create uniform food allergy guidelines for schools. Only Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee have statewide allergy plans. About two million school-age children have food allergies; eight foods account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions--peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.
By Kelley Schoonover
The Associated Press; Greenwich Time (CT) 2008-06-07 (entry)
House OKs measure that would strengthen enforcement of ban on removing the fins of a shark and discarding the carcass, first established in the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000. And: fishermen from Spain and Indonesia are main culprits; soup is served as a celebratory treat for growing affluent class in China (click 'See also').
CQ Politics 2008-06-11 (entry)
See also
Monsanto spent $1.3 million in first three months of 2008 to lobby lawmakers and policy officials on the farm/food bill, biotechnology, organic standards, patent reform, theft of agricultural seeds, endangered species, timber and greenhouse gas emissions legislation, international trade and ethanol production. And: About three-fourths of the corn, and about 90 percent of the soybeans planted in U.S. are genetically modified (click 'See also').
The Associated Press; Forbes 2008-05-28 (entry)
See also
Lawmakers say they will take up farm/food bill's trade policy section, which includes international food aid programs, as a separate bill after pages were inadvertently dropped from original version that was OK'd by Congress after president's veto. And: Little-noticed provision of farm/food bill could increase payments to farmers by billions of dollars if high commodity prices fall to more typical levels (click 'See also').
By Jonathan Weisman
The Washington Post 2008-05-23 (entry)
See also
Clerical error omits 35 pages from farm/food bill sent from Congress to President Bush. Mistake may require Congress to re-submit complete bill. White House announced a veto on Wednesday; House then voted, 316-108, to override the veto. Stopgap bill may be needed; the latest short-term extension expires on Friday.
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2008-05-21 (entry)
House passes farm/food bill with 'veto-proof' margin. Key to strength of support is money for variety of special interests, including racehorse breeders and Vermont ski resort. Before vote, four lawmakers call bill 'a missed opportunity for the serious reform that would make our farm programs more equitable and fiscally responsible.'
By David Stout
The New York Times 2008-05-15 (entry)
President Bush will veto new farm/food bill, USDA secretary says, and lawmakers begin effort to override. The nearly $300 billion bill expands subsidies to farmers, protects sugar industry and boosts conservation. Most of the spending goes to food stamps, school lunches and other nutrition programs. For farm/food bill history, click 'See also.'
By Carolyn Lochhead
San Francisco Chronicle 2009-05-08 (entry)
See also
New farm/food bill accord expands nutrition programs but largely maintains farm subsidies. In nod to idea that corn-based ethanol mandates help push food prices up, bill reduces tax credit for ethanol processors by six cents per gallon. Sticking point is pilot program to buy emergency food from local producers rather than shipping American crops overseas. Customs fees, mostly paid by importers, would finance new spending in bill.
By David M. Herszenhorn
The New York Times 2008-04-26 (entry)
As April 18 deadline for farm/food bill approaches, conference committee members agree on three of 11 policy components, but funding remains a problem. House negotiators object to $2.5 billion in energy tax credits the Senate insists on. Then there's the extra $10 billion the Senate wants for new farm programs and disaster aid.
CQ Politics 2008-04-15 (entry)
Bipartisan House farm bill proposal avoids new taxes and includes: $9 billion increase for food stamps and nutrition programs; $4 billion increase for conservation programs and $1.3 billion more to benefit fruit and vegetable growers; and country-of-origin labeling of imported meat. It also guarantees farmers $52 billion in automatic payments over the next 10 years even if prices stay high. Click 'See also' for investigation of agricultural subsidies.
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-04-10 (entry)
See also
In first joint meeting, farm/food bill leader's prepared remarks exhort Congressional conferees to 'carry through and finish this job.' House-Senate budget framework was built on assumption of $10 billion above the 10-year budget baseline. But success will require 'a lot more cooperation, reasonableness and flexibility from the White House.'
The editors
Agweb 2008-04-10 (entry)
Tell everyone in Congress that they should vote on the farm/food bill as if the nation's health, future and security is at stake - it is. If proposed bill becomes law, agribusiness gets the most subsidies despite its damage to our health and the environment. Consider payments of $450,000 for construction of lined "lagoons" to hold factory farms' animal sewage; $4 billion for 'disasters' for those who plant corn, wheat in drought- and erosion-prone land.
By Daniel Imhoff
Los Angeles Times 2008-04-10 (entry)
The health and well-being of needy people alone ought to inspire those in Congress negotiating on farm/food bill - and the White House that needs to sign off on whatever they pass - to make compromises and get help to those who need it most. Extending current bill until after election would leave new Congress with sticky questions on farmer incentives.
The editors
The Plain Dealer (OH) 2008-04-09 (entry)
Seeking billions to fund nutrition and conservation, Democrats struggle against farm/food bill deadline and threat of Bush veto. Farm-state lawmakers protect $5 billion in automatic payouts that go each year to farmers who have historically planted subsidized crops. Reform-minded lawmaker says several colleagues have read 'The Omnivore's Dilemma.'
By Carolyn Lochhead
San Francisco Chronicle 2004-04-04 (entry)
See also
If farm/food bill takes food from poor to pay millionaire farmers making profits from high food prices that are hurting the poor, it would be disgraceful. A bright spot in House bill is increased spending for nutrition programs. An obscenity in the Senate's version is disaster-assistance program that would encourage planting on marginal land. It's looking as if the nutrition budget will be cut to fund this environmentally destructive handout.
The editors
Los Angeles Times 2008-03-21 (entry)
Michigan grows varied range of crops - from apples to zucchini. If producers for corn, wheat, rice, cotton and soybeans (10 percent of the state's farms) continue to receive nearly two-thirds of all subsidies, how long before every cucumber and pumpkin field gets plowed under for corn or wheat? If Congress won't rein in subsidies, Bush should keep veto card in his hand.
The editors
Detroit Free Press 2008-03-13 (entry)
In farm/food bill, farmers close to scoring the most lavish subsidies ever, retaining a loophole for more money and enjoying a $5.1 billion emergency fund, at cost of increased taxes and trade distortions. Corn producers alone will get $10.5 billion over five years, on top of ethanol subsidies that in 2007 prompted conversion of 15.3 million acres to corn. This monster should die of its own greedy weight.
The editors
The Wall Street Journal (may require subscription) 2008-03-13 (entry)
Old farm/food bill extended again, as lawmakers continue debating non-tax ways to pay for new bill's expanded food and nutrition programs plus subsidies to commodities farmers. One squabble: a $5 billion fund that would pay farmers for weather-related crop loss. Dissenters say those funds shouldn't be tied to farm/food bill.
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press; The Guardian (UK) 2008-03-12 (entry)
There's no justification for spending billions more on agriculture. The farm/food bill should have been redrafted to cut crop subsidies and cap payments to rich farmers, devoting savings to deficit reduction and increases in food stamps to help the poor buy food for themselves and their families.
The editors
The Washington Post 2008-03-09 (entry)
Senators lobby to retain enforcement of Country Of Origin Labeling for ginseng in compromise farm/food bill. Wisconsin ginseng growers have complained that imported ginseng is sometimes mislabeled.
Yara Korkor
Wisconsin Public Radio; The Associated Press; WBAY 2008-03-03 (entry)
See also
Congress must resist the USDA's undermining of the farm-to-school program. This local food initiative helps children develop eating habits that defend against diet-related disease. It supports all farmers, not just those who grow fruits and vegetables. The farm/food bill panel needs to respond to communities and schools with innovation in food purchasing programs 'to the maximum extent possible.'
By Senator Ginny Lyons
The Times Argus (VT) 2008-03-02 (entry)
Hunters worry that farm/food bill negotiations will neglect Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to maintain wildlife habitat and protect water quality. Program, already challenged by high commodity crop and land prices, is credited with producing extra 2.2 million ducks and 13.5 million pheasants annually, protecting 170,000 miles of stream banks and keeping 450 million tons of topsoil where it belongs.
By Faith Bremner
Argus Leader (SD) 2008-03-01 (entry)
Skyrocketing grain prices hit world's poorest while devastating budgets of emergency feeding programs. Administration has no plans to cover the shortfall in farm/food bill, still in negotiations, so food aid workers look at reducing number of countries served and amount of food delivered. Meanwhile, emergency requests increase.
By Anthony Faiola
The Washington Post 2008-03-01 (entry)
As world hunger grows more urgent, U.S. lawmaker re-thinks his insistence on protecting funds for long-term foreign aid projects in farm/food bill. The program, Food for Peace, is the nation's largest food aid program. It finances nutrition, farming or other projects to avert future food emergencies.
By Missy Ryan
Reuters 2008-02-29 (entry)
Farm/food bill still stalled as administration demands spending cuts or tax revenue for expanded programs. Senate agriculture committee head says negotiators have suggested all manner of funding proposals, but White House refuses to accept any of those ideas -- or put forth other options.
CQ Politics 2008-02-28 (entry)
In effort to avoid Bush veto of farm/food bill, House proposes less of an increase for federal nutrition programs, stricter limits on subsidies paid to rich farmers, removing the $5 billion fund for paying farmers who lose crops due to weather, and cutting back extra subsidies for some crops. The new version also would extend the legislation to 10 years.
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press; San Francisco Chronicle 2008-02-13 (entry)
See also
Under threat of Bush veto, senators are chosen for negotiating farm/food bill compromise with House. They are Democrats Max Baucus of Montana, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan; and Republicans Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Charles Grassley of Iowa, Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Pat Roberts of Kansas. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, will chair the committee.
By Steve Miller
Rapid City Journal (SD) 2008-02-07 (entry)
In classic "give a man a fish or teach him to fish" argument, Congress and administration debate ratio of $1.2 billion in emergency food aid in farm/food bill. Should more go to disaster assistance and humanitarian emergencies or for classes that teach nutrition and farming and could prevent famine and other catastrophes?
By Matthew Lee and Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press 2008-01-16 (entry)
Despite threat of veto, and disparity with House version, Senate OKs its $286 billion farm/food bill, 79 to 14. Measure would give nearly $10 billion in new payments to farmers, including a $5.1 billion "disaster trust fund" to cover weather losses, plus a revenue insurance program that would cost taxpayers an extra $4.7 billion over 10 years.
By Dan Morgan
The Washington Post 2007-12-15 (entry)
In 56-43 vote, Senate rejects bid in farm/food bill to cut annual payments to farmers from from $360,000 to $250,000. Bill also would have attempted to close loopholes that some farmers use to collect higher payments and would have required that farmers be "actively engaged" to receive subsidies.
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press 2007-12-13 (entry)
Subsidies for asparagus farmers, set aside for first time in farm/food bill, singled out as example of wasteful spending in $286 billion legislation, but Senate keeps measure in bill. Already, group has killed plan that would have replaced subsidies with crop insurance.
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press 2007-12-12 (entry)
Senate kills amendment that would have phased out the usual subsidies in farm/food bill and replaced them with crop insurance for all farmers. Bill under debate extends and expands crop and dairy subsidies along with food stamps and other nutrition programs.
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press 2007-12-11 (entry)
No sooner than Senate agrees to cull amendments to farm/food bill in effort to pass it, left-right reform coalition begins mobilizing behind amendments to either radically overhaul crop subsidy system or to restrict large federal payments made to rich farmers.
By Carolyn Lochhead
San Francisco Chronicle 2007-12-08 (entry)
As commodities farmers enjoy record prices and incomes and obesity epidemic rages, the way to refocus Congress and American people on bloated bill in Senate is to change its name from farm bill to nutrition bill, editors suggest.
The editors
The Mercury News (CA) 2007-11-13 (entry)
Slashing commodities subsidies addresses only a symptom, not the problem of the farm/food bill. Real reform in federal farm policy will come from changing the message to farmers, which, since the early '70s has increasingly been: Produce as much as you can."
By Tom Philpott
Grist 2007-11-08 (entry)
In confirming adage that politics is local, Senate lines up with House to override Bush veto of waterways bill that approves but doesn't fund $23 billion projects, including Florida Everglades restoration and dam work along the Mississippi River.
By David Stout
The New York Times 2007-11-08 (entry)
See also
As White House cites lack of reform and threatens veto of farm/food bill, Senate leaders consider deciding in private about number of amendments. Possible add-ons include those on Iraq war, immigration reform, estate tax and renewable fuels standards for ethanol industry.
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2007-11-06 (entry)
Bush vowed years ago to end expensive commodities subsidies but backed down. Now, his acting secretary of agriculture vows to recommend a veto of the Senate's version of the farm/food bill. Belated action is better than none for this bill and its billions in subsidies for corn, cotton, wheat, rice and sugar that U.S. agribusiness produces to excess.
The editors
The Cincinnati Post 2007-11-08 (entry)
To help federally subsidized soybean farmers plant more crops, two Mississippi senators renew hard lobbying for $200 million project that would drain 200,000 acres of Delta wetlands, hardwood forests and wildlife habitat. The daft project, first proposed in 1941, should be killed by the Bush administration.
The editors
The New York Times 2007-11-06 (entry)
House overrides Bush veto of $23 billion bill funding nearly 900 new water projects, including improving Depression-era locks and dams that impede agricultural freight traffic on the upper Mississippi River.
By Christopher Doering
Reuters 2007-11-06 (entry)
Existing farm/food bill fosters obesity and diabetes by subsidizing cheap junk food and fast food and encourages land, water and meat pollution by rewarding feedlot production of livestock and fence-row to fence-row cultivation of only a few crops. Then, its authors comfort critics with extra funds for nutrition programs and environmental cleanup.
By Michael Pollan
The New York Times 2007-11-04 (entry)
If Congress can triumph over farm-state legislators' desires and overcome inertia to approve Lugar-Lautenberg bill, crop insurance would replace subsidies. It would save $20 billion over five years, and would funnel the savings to valuable soil, open space and wetlands preservation programs, as well as the food stamps program.
The editors
The New York Times 2007-11-03 (entry)
Food aid, a key provision of the farm/food bill, saves lives in natural disasters and emergencies, but it also addresses chronic hunger and fosters long-term development overseas and needs half the funds reserved for those projects, say Catholic archbishop and bishop.
By Wilton D. Gregory and J. Kevin Boland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 2007-11-02 (entry)
See also
This federal relic of a farm bill should be disavowed by Republicans because it's against free markets, self-reliance and small government, and shunned by Democrats because bit payouts are going to the rich. But agribusiness lobbyists fund politicians' campaigns, so politicians promise dollars.
By Victor Davis Hanson
Chicago Tribune; Tribune News Services 2007-11-02 (entry)
New amendments to farm bill may provide more money for land stewardship, rural development, energy and public nutrition, but increased payments to farmers of wheat, barley and canola in new legislation could spur challenges from World Trade Organization, Senate Agriculture chair says.
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2007-10-30 (entry)
After fierce infighting, Senate Agriculture Committee votes to offer farmers an alternative safety net for low prices or bad weather; the $288 billion, five-year farm bill also provides additional funding for food stamps, conservation, fruit and vegetable industries, cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay, and adds fish farming to insurance rolls.
By Dan Morgan
The Washington Post 2007-10-26 (entry)
As increased immigration raids target agricultural workers (70 percent of which are likely illegals), fruit rots and companies scramble; a better idea, editors say, is AgJOBS bill, which speeds guest-worker processing and grants temporary legal status to undocumented workers here for two years.
The editors
Boston Globe 2007-10-24 (entry)
Derailed efforts to reform farm/food bill illustrates domination of farm-state lawmakers and deep-pocketed farm lobby, which controls legislation that will cost taxpayers some $288 billion over five years.
By David M. Herszenhorn
The New York Times 2007-10-24 (entry)
Paying billions to producers of crops like wheat, corn and soybeans complicates trade negotiations and discriminates against poor farmers overseas who cannot compete; if Senate bows to pressure as did the House, administration should veto the farm/food bill.
The editors
The New York Times 2007-10-20 (entry)
Old-time power politics, mastered by savvy lobbies of cotton and corn, is about sharp elbows and opportunistic alliances with farm/food bill now in Senate; despite obesity epidemic, crops that most Americans recognize as food don't rank.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times 2007-10-04 (entry)
Latest proposal to safeguard safety of food would close hundreds of ports to entry, siphoning edibles through only 13 sites; grocery industry, importers and exporters predict trade disruption and soaring grocery prices.
By Andrew Bridges
The Associated Press; Washington Post 2007-09-26 (entry)
To determine your environmental footprint of those restaurant dinners and other lifestyle choices, play this game from American Public Media.
By Christopher Kennedy, Michael Skoler and others
American Public Media and Realtime Associates, Inc. 2007-09-19 (entry)
New university-created tool helps farmers compare financial impact of existing payments of farm/food bill with alternative plan recommended by the Durbin-Brown team.
By John Hawkins
Illinois Farm Bureau 2007-09-14 (entry)
See also
The farm/food bill, now in Senate, covers land conservation, food stamps, school snacks and foreign aid, but it's really about politics and money; House agriculture chair declares that advocates for change were pushing too hard, but Bush likely would veto its version.
By Stephen J. Hedges
Chicago Tribune 2007-08-13 (entry)
It's the 303 million overfed and undernourished Americans who deserve nutritional health and better food safety through the farm/food bill being debated in Congress, writes nutrition professional.
By Connie Diekman
President, American Dietetic Association; Chicago Tribune 2007-08-28 (entry)
Mountaintop removal coal mining, with toxic leftovers shoved into streams, foul residents' water and kill the fish; study traces mining pollution to children's nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and shortness of breath; long-term effects unknown.
By Eric Reece
Orion Magazine 2006-01-01 (entry)
In groundbreaking presidential report, cancer panel calls down governmental polices that have made fruits and vegetables more expensive and less available, have limited physical education in schools and created an environment that discourages physical activity; food industry with its unhealthy food sales implicated as well.
MSNBC; Reuters 2007-08-16 (entry)
See also
Though customers spend more than $14 billion a year on organics and depend on USDA label even for imports, USDA infrastructure, with nine staffers and a $1.5 million budget, languishes; other departments spend about $28 million a year on organic research, data collection and farmer assistance, but the department spent $37 million subsidizing farmers who grew dry peas, an $83 million crop, in 2005.
By Andrew Martin
The New York Times (may require subscription) 0000-00-00 (entry)
Judging from plastic bottles clogging the landfills and SUVs clogging the highways, the news that we're killing ourselves and our world hasn't kicked in, so that makes "The 11th Hour," an unnerving, surprisingly affecting documentary, essential viewing.
By Manohla Dargis
The New York Times 2007-08-17 (entry)
Bush administration deserves credit for pushing immigration reform, but enforcement-only plan for handling illegal immigrants could create potentially devastating consequences for farmers at harvest season.
The editors
Denver Post 2007-08-14 (entry)
Religious groups mobilize around the farm/food bill, speaking of justice and the urgent need to fix broken food system, from nutrition programs and energy policy to farmers and the wellbeing of the people they feed.
By Joe Orso
La Crosse Tribune; Associated Press, Wisconsin State Journal 0000-00-00 (entry)
Bush administration's buy-local request for emergency food aid could help Kenyans, some of the world's poorest people, advocates say, but U.S. is mired in domestic farm subsidies and lobbies of shipping interests; aid for agricultural projects lags as well.
By Celia W. Dugger
The New York times (may require subscription) (entry)
New interactive map allows users to tract proliferation of factory farms by state and county - even number of animals - and it raises questions of whether we pursue the logic of industrialism to its limits, and how badly will it harm the landscape, the people who live in it and democracy itself?
The editors
The New York Times (may require subscription) (entry)
See also
Find hemp seed, hemp oil, hemp butter, hemp bread, and hemp bars at the natural foods store, but it's all imported; hemp farming is banned in the U.S. because the plant is a version of the cannabis plant and contains low levels of the active ingredient in marijuana.
By Ann Woolner
Bloomberg News (entry)
Current agricultural policies distort food costs, waste billions of taxpayer dollars, and subsidize a handful of large farming operations that raise a few selected crops - and subvert subsistence farmers across the globe by dumping cheap surplus goods at below-market prices.
By Senator Richard Lugar and Representative Ron Kind
The Modesto Bee (CA) 2007-07-15 (entry)
It's a $70 billion annual bill, and before, only agribusiness cared, but a tsunami of activists now believes that its subsidies for corn and soy encourage diet-related disease and climate change; instead, they advocate money for sustainable and organic food production, agricultural conservation and for a priority on fresh, local fruits and vegetables.
By Carol Ness
San Francisco Chronicle (entry)
