POLICY UPDATES
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The House passed farm bill legislation Friday, July 27th, by a vote of 231-191. The measure includes more money for conservation, renewable energy, and specialty crop programs than in past Farm Bills.
The legislation aims to limit subsidies to farmers whose average income exceeds $1 million a year, down from the $2.5 million current limit, and also limits farmers from collecting subsidy payments for multiple farm businesses. In an unsuccessful attempt to further reduce government payments, Representative Ron Kind of Wisconsin proposed even stricter limits that would have barred farms making over $250,000 annually from subsidies, with savings going to conservation, nutrition, and rural development programs.
The House legislation provides $4.5 billion in conservation spending over five years. They also dramatically increased funds for organic research and organic transition assistance.
The current farm law will expire on September 30th. The Senate will now take up the legislation followed by conference committee work.
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