Dear John,

Put on your boots, it's Farm Bill time! This enormous piece of legislation, which comes around every five years, was last enacted into law in December 2018 and is set to expire this September 30th. The federal government now has the task of reviewing the food and farm landscape in the U.S. and renewing this expansive omnibus bill.

A handful of issues dominate Farm Bill spending, including nutrition, crop insurance, conservation and commodity crops. The remaining 1% of spending packs a potent and increasingly important punch, covering programs that are changing the landscape for American farmers and eaters. These topics include issues as varied as international trade, rural development, local food systems, beginning farmers, racial equity, research, forestry and more. The fate of these programs hinges on upcoming 2023 Farm Bill negotiations, where programs could be cut, reduced, reshaped or expanded. 

Want to dive deeper? We've got you covered in our Farm Bill 101. This post will take you through the current political context, as well as the intricacies of, and programs within, each of the 12 Farm Bill titles.

Two weeks ago we gathered with hundreds of farmers and their allies in Washington, D.C., for a three-day mobilization called Farmers for Climate Action: A Rally for Resilience. The rally included inspiring speakers and musical performances by John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson (who greeted the crowd via video) and more. After the rally, we marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to demand support for farmer-led climate solutions, racial justice and the prioritization of communities over corporations in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.