Feedback needed by March 31 on federal Farm Bill

Congress is expected to reauthorize the federal Farm Bill this year – don't miss out on your chance to provide feedback on this critical piece of federal legislation.

While the word ‘farm’ is in the bill name, this federal program affects both urban and rural communities of all sizes. Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2023. This legislation greatly impacts rural and urban communities, farming livelihoods and food economies, which in turn affects the environment, local and regional economic growth, and public health.

Three key components of the bill that impact cities include:

• Rural development: The Farm Bill provides funding for drinking water, sewer, and storm drainage facilities in rural communities of 10,000 or less. Additionally, USDA receives funds to support broadband programs in rural communities.
• Food and nutrition: The Farm Bill is a key part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which helps connect low-income individuals with access to healthy food options. Additionally, the Farm Bill provides grant funding to communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
• Conservation programs: The Farm Bill provides funding to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. The USDA manages the $4.95 billion Rural Conservation Partnership Program which provides grants for locally led conservation projects that address climate change, enhance water quality, and address other critical challenges on agricultural land.

Senate leadership is collecting feedback through an online, bipartisan form that will be available through Friday, March 31 at 5 pm EST. We encourage city leaders to provide feedback as soon as possible.

For more information on the Farm Bill and its impact on communities, please check out this February 2023 article from NLC.