Farm Bill Primer: Budget Dynamics (CRS Report for Congress)
Release Date |
Revised Oct. 18, 2024 |
Report Number |
IF12233 |
Report Type |
In Focus |
Authors |
Jim Monke |
Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
Congress is considering a new farm bill because provisions
in the 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334) and its one year
extension (P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102) began expiring at
the end of FY2024 (CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the
2018 Farm Bill and Extension for 2024). On May 23, 2024,
the House Committee on Agriculture ordered reported H.R.
8467. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry has not released bill text for a farm bill.
Federal spending for agriculture is divided into two main
categories—mandatory and discretionary spending:
• Mandatory spending is authorized primarily for the
farm commodity programs, conservation, crop
insurance, and the nutrition assistance programs. A farm
bill authorizes outlays for mandatory programs when the
law is enacted.
• Discretionary appropriations are authorized for most
other programs, including rural development, research,
and credit programs. Farm bills set program parameters.
Funding may be provided in appropriations acts.
Some farm bill programs have received both types of
funding. Discretionary appropriations are the primary
source for many programs, but mandatory spending usually
dominates the farm bill budget debate and is the focus here.