iJune 6, 2012 - The Senate may take up its version of the Farm Bill as early as this week, while the House is expected to finish its version before July 4. According to the Congresional Budget Office (reports available here and here), the Senate Farm Bill (S. 3240) will reduce spending by about $23.6 billion over 10 years, mostly by cutting direct payments to farmers, conservation programs, and nutritional programs such as food stamps.
MapLight has conducted an analysis of campaign contributions from interest groups from agribusiness industries to current members of the U.S. House and Senate from Jan. 1, 2001 – June 30, 2011.
| Business | House | Senate | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crop production & basic processing | $7,994,435 | $5,518,407 | $13,512,842 |
| Sugar cane & sugar beets | $8,013,222 | $2,410,396 | $10,423,618 |
| Milk & dairy producers | $6,901,114 | $2,765,124 | $9,666,238 |
| Tobacco & tobacco products | $5,733,642 | $2,855,379 | $8,589,021 |
| Livestock | $4,801,988 | $3,284,489 | $8,086,477 |
| Forestry & forest products | $4,314,879 | $2,941,910 | $7,256,789 |
| Food and kindred products manufacturing | $3,370,976 | $3,301,086 | $6,672,062 |
| Food stores | $3,838,467 | $2,605,691 | $6,444,158 |
| Agricultural services & related industries | $3,319,428 | $1,828,580 | $5,148,008 |
| Vegetables, fruits, and tree nuts | $2,439,918 | $1,347,786 | $3,787,704 |
| Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers & pesticides) | $1,909,235 | $1,549,169 | $3,458,404 |
| Meat processing & products | $1,813,751 | $1,220,079 | $3,033,830 |
| Poultry & eggs | $1,930,351 | $1,035,206 | $2,965,557 |
| Farm organizations & cooperatives | $1,963,282 | $660,008 | $2,623,290 |
| Farm machinery & equipment | $1,536,269 | $965,773 | $2,502,042 |
| Other commodities (incl. rice, peanuts, honey) | $1,474,709 | $930,657 | $2,405,366 |
| Veterinarians | $1,311,100 | $995,824 | $2,306,924 |
| Paper & pulp mills and paper manufacturing | $1,120,194 | $1,058,495 | $2,178,689 |
| Cotton | $1,306,427 | $687,560 | $1,993,987 |
| Florists & nursery services | $1,015,352 | $651,464 | $1,666,816 |
| Food & beverage products and services | $867,393 | $753,621 | $1,621,014 |
| Food wholesalers | $934,145 | $671,896 | $1,606,041 |
| Animal feed & health products | $726,835 | $860,550 | $1,587,385 |
| Wheat, corn, soybeans, and cash grain | $890,136 | $569,170 | $1,459,306 |
| Grain traders & terminals | $428,500 | $350,300 | $778,800 |
| Agriculture | $388,284 | $337,186 | $725,470 |
| Horse breeders | $316,098 | $354,474 | $670,572 |
| Feedlots & related livestock services | $341,450 | $180,400 | $521,850 |
| Sheep and wool producers | $50,550 | $51,560 | $102,110 |
| Grand Total | $71,052,130 | $42,742,240 | $113,794,370 |
Major Changes
Below is a list of major spending changes from the previous Farm Bill, according to the CBO reports on S. 3240. Most cost estimates are for the 2013-2022 period. Several amendments are expected.
- Ends direct payments to farmers for many crops, but adds a larger crop insurance plan.
- Saves an estimated $19.8 billion over 10 years from ending direct payments.
- Adds $5.1 billion to crop insurance programs.
- Creates a new system of commodity payments under which soybean farmers are expected to receive $1.3 billion more in payments, while almost all other crops would receive less over 10 years.
- Establishes new insurance programs for cotton and peanuts, costing $3.2 billion and $239 million, respectively.
- Popcorn becomes a crop eligible for benefits.
- Makes cuts to conservation programs totaling $6.4 billion.
- Cuts $3.9 billion over 10 years in overall spending on nutritional programs, including $4.5 billion in direct cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) plans to introduce an amendment to prevent the SNAP cuts.
- Adds $647 million to agricultural research, extension activities, and related issues.
- Adds $780 million for energy programs, such as bio-fuels.
- Adds $360 million for horticulture programs, which include specialty crops and promotion of farmers markets.
- Provides $1.5 million in 2013 for the sheep production and marketing grant program.
METHODOLOGY: MapLight analysis of reported contributions to congressional campaigns of current U.S. senators from interest groups in the Agribusiness industry category. All figures for members of the U.S. Senate are from Jan 1, 2001 – June 30, 2011. Campaign contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org).
