Republish this content

<h1>Senate’s Farm Bill Moves Forward—But What Is It, Anyway?</h1>
The Senate Agriculture Committee just passed its version of a farm bill in a 20-1 vote today. It’s one more step in what has been a delayed journey to pass a 2018–2022 bill before the current one expires in September.

The farm bill is a colossal piece of highly partisan legislation passed every five years. It sets federal food policy, including determining where <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-commodity-policy/projected-spending-under-the-2014-farm-bill/"> about $100 billion a year </a> in taxpayer money is spent. These allocations impact farming livelihoods, how food is grown, and what kinds of food are grown, touching everything from <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lara-bryant/good-soil-policy-senate-farm-bill"> climate change </a> (this Senate bill includes a program that would pay farmers for building soil and measuring soil carbon) to <a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/4/25/17262764/farm-bill-food-stamp-snap-house-republican"> Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program </a> benefits (protected under this Senate bill).

Next, this bill will be considered by the full Senate. Because it’s a strongly bipartisan measure, its chances of passage are good. Meanwhile, the House Republican version of a bill was already <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-farm-bill/farm-bill-to-get-second-vote-in-u-s-house-in-june-roll-call-idUSKCN1IN06I"> defeated in May</a>, and House leadership has said <a href="https://www.inforum.com/business/agriculture/4460200-bipartisan-senate-farm-bill-gains-momentum-20-1-committee-vote"> it will try again with its bill on June 22</a>. Then the Senate and House will negotiate.

Why is the farm bill so important, and how does it work? In this video, the Food &amp; Environment Reporting Network explains the bill that dictates the way we produce and eat food.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P4mQyUOE_z0" width="1400" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<p>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a> at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2018/06/14/senates-farm-bill-moves-forward-but-what-is-it-anyway">https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2018/06/14/senates-farm-bill-moves-forward-but-what-is-it-anyway</a>.</p><link href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2018/06/14/senates-farm-bill-moves-forward-but-what-is-it-anyway" rel="canonical"/><p>Yes! Magazine is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of ... . Learn more at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a></p><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://www.yesmagazine.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=12196&ga4=G-74QJNNY44Z" style="width:1px;height:1px;">

Senate’s Farm Bill Moves Forward—But What Is It, Anyway?
The Senate Agriculture Committee just passed its version of a farm bill in a 20-1 vote today. It’s one more step in what has been a delayed journey to pass a 2018–2022 bill before the current one expires in September.

The farm bill is a colossal piece of highly partisan legislation passed every five years. It sets federal food policy, including determining where  about $100 billion a year  in taxpayer money is spent. These allocations impact farming livelihoods, how food is grown, and what kinds of food are grown, touching everything from  climate change  (this Senate bill includes a program that would pay farmers for building soil and measuring soil carbon) to  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  benefits (protected under this Senate bill).

Next, this bill will be considered by the full Senate. Because it’s a strongly bipartisan measure, its chances of passage are good. Meanwhile, the House Republican version of a bill was already  defeated in May, and House leadership has said  it will try again with its bill on June 22. Then the Senate and House will negotiate.

Why is the farm bill so important, and how does it work? In this video, the Food & Environment Reporting Network explains the bill that dictates the way we produce and eat food.