VIRTUAL FB NOTEBOOK
Introduction Letter from President Loveland
1) Highlights (full document with all issue papers)
2) Highlights by House Subc.
3) Highlights by Senate Subc.
4) Full Report
5) List of Recommendations
6) Recommendations by House Subc.
7) Recommendations by Senate Subc.
8) Glossary
NASDA Farm Bill Recommendations-Highlights & Issue Papers
(Note: The Highlights summary page has links to pages with more explanation for each section. Click the outlined headers to go to the explanatory page for that section.)
Analysis of the provisions of the 2007 Farm Bill as passed by the House of Representatives on July 27th and compared them with NASDA’s recommendations.
Comparison of the Senate Agriculture Committee-passed Bill with the House-passed Bill (H.R. 2419) and NASDA Recommendations.
RESOURCES & LINKS
House Ag Ctme Website -- 2007 Farm Bill Discussion Draft Language
CRS Report: Farm Bill Proposals and Legislative Action in the 110th Congress
NGA's Farm & Agriculture Policy
MGA's Policy Objectives & Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill
CRS Report - Disaster Assistance
CRS Report - Emergency Funding for Agriculture
CRS Report - Previewing the 2007 Farm Bill
AFT's FB Proposal
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill
NASDA's 2007 FARM BILL PROPOSALS
INTRODUCTION
The commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the state departments of agriculture are keenly aware of the changing dynamics in food, fiber and fuel production around the world. As the chief agricultural officers in their states, they understand the importance of the entire food and agricultural sector, not only to their states but to the national economy as well. From their vantage point comes the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s (NASDA) comprehensive set of strategic policy initiatives designed to enhance U.S. agricultural competitiveness and profitability and to ensure the survivability of U.S. producers. Our purpose is to contribute to a wide-ranging and constructive debate on agricultural policy and the next farm bill.
Agriculture is an important force in the economic, social, and political fabric of America. Agriculture is considered one of the protected Critical Assets to this nation as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of the Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets states that local governments represent the front line in protecting the people from acts of terrorism. States are asked to identify and secure the critical infrastructures and key assets under their control. Agriculture and Food is a protected Critical Asset. However, on the public front, agriculture is treated as a replaceable supplier and not as a Critical Asset. The definition of Agriculture and Food Sectors as a Critical Asset includes:
* The supply chains for feed, animals, and animal products;
* Crop production and the supply chains of seed, fertilizer, and other necessary related materials; and
* The post-harvesting components of the food supply chain, from processing, production, and packaging through storage and distribution to retail sales, institutional food services, and restaurant or home consumption.
As representatives of the state departments of agriculture, we seek to outline in this document what issues must be addressed in the next farm bill for the United States in order to allow the best avenue for protecting agriculture as a Critical Asset to the safety and security of this nation and its people.