The 2012 Food & Farm BillNovember 14, 2011 Why We Care About the Food & Farm

Bill & Recommendations for Action A Farm Bill is passed approximately every five years and includes administrative and funding authorities for nearly all mandatory and discretionary federal agriculture programs. As the pie chart at right illustrates, over two-thirds of the 2008 Farm Bill authorized nutrition education and supplemental nutrition programs, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as Food Stamps), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), The Emergency Food & Assistance Program (TEFAP), and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). These programs have a huge impact on the people served through KLF and on the programs that KLF operates (see next page for more detail). At the time, the 2008 Farm Bill was estimated to total $284 billion from 2008-2012. Actual expenditures are revised through the annual appropriations process,; baseline amounts can be rearranged and some program funding may get eliminated completely. Actual 20082012 expenditures are now projected at $400 billion.

SNAP (or Food Stamps) is the largest nutrition program in the Farm Bill, budgeted for $188.9 billion for 20082012. More current estimates increase SNAP expenditures to $314.3 billion due to increasing program participation rates during the recession, higher food costs, and provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

It is important to distinguish between the five-year Farm Bill and the Appropriations Bills that determines the actual annual budget for each program. The 2012-2017 Farm Bill is referred to as the 2012 Food & Farm Bill. Current Activity Congress is currently working on both the 2012 Appropriations Bill and the 2012 Food & Farm Bill.. The House of Representatives passed its version of the 2012 Appropriations Bill in June. The bills overall allocation for FY2012 ($17.250 billion) is $5 billion below the Presidents FY2012 request and about $3 billion below FY2011 levels. The bill includes cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The Senate passed its version of the 2012 Agriculture appropriations bill in September. The overall allocation ($19.78 billion) is below FY2011 discretionary levels but provides $2.699 billion more in funding compared to the House bill. The House and Senate must now reconcile their bills and present a united 2012 Appropriation Bill to be signed by the President. Even while the 2012 Appropriations Bill is pending, four key leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees have been meeting without their fellow committee members to propose a 2012 Food & Farm Bill to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction (the Super Committee). While details of the proposal are still being negotiated (they were due 11/1/11), the recommendation is expected to include $23 billion in Farm Bill cuts over the next 10 years, including $4-5 billion in nutrition program cuts. The Super Committee may accept or amend the agriculture committees recommendations but must have a comprehensive deficit reduction plan drafted by 11/23/11. The Super Committees plan must then be accepted or rejected by Congressbut it may not be amendedby 12/23/11.

Recommendations for Action KLF works hard to assure that no one goes hungry in Kalamazoo County, but it is just one part of the larger food security system in which the government provides basic support to our countrys most vulnerable citizens. KLF is not able to replace the government safety net and it is important for us to advocate for a Farm Bill that ensures adequate nutritious food for people living in poverty. KLF Board Members, staff, volunteers and supporters need to call their elected representatives and ask them to at least maintain current funding for nutrition programs that impact low-income clients. Key programs include: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as Food Stamps) - SNAP is targeted to reach people who have the most difficulty affording an adequate diet. 86% of participants are households with incomes below the poverty level; 42% of households had a gross income less than or equal to half the poverty guideline. Cuts to SNAP increase demand for KLF services. 16% of Kalamazoo County residents and 28% of Kalamazoo County children rely on SNAP. SNAP currently reaches only 56% of eligible working poor households. Michigan recently began requiring a SNAP asset test requiring people to spend down assets beyond $5000 to qualify for assistance; this will likely most affect the newly unemployed and delay their ability to become self-sufficient when the economy improves. While the Senate Appropriations Bill would preserve SNAP funding, the House 2012 Appropriations Bill proposes cuts of 20% to SNAP. If this were approved, more than 45 million SNAP participants would see a reduction in benefits by $58 a month (for a family of four). Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children under age 5 who meet low-income criteria and are nutritionally at risk may receive supplemental food, nutrition education and health referrals through WIC. More than 300,000 women, infants, and children receive WIC benefits in Michigan. The Senate 2012 Appropriations Bill includes $152 million in cuts from FY2011; the House version cuts an addition $581 million, meaning up to 350,000 women, infants and children would lose WIC nationwide. The Emergency Food & Assistance Program (TEFAP) - Grants are awarded to states to provide commodities at no cost to emergency food organizations such as KLF, the Feeding America network and the Food Bank Council of Michigan to distribute the food to low-income residents through pantries or prepared meals at soup kitchens. TEFAP foods such as meat, peanut butter and fruit juice are among the most nutritious foods distributed throughout the emergency food network. KLF estimates that 30-35% of its food product comes through TEFAP. The Senate 2012 Appropriations Bill includes $260 million for commodity funding, $13.5 million more than in FY 2011. The House version reduces TEFAP spending to $200 million. Food banks would experience a 20% cut to TEFAP food and funds. Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - Elderly persons (and some women with children) who meet income eligibility requirements are the primary recipients of commodity food packages designed to both increase nutrition and serve as an outlet for government food commodities. KLF began coordinating a monthly CSFP in October 2010. An average of 350 Kalamazoo County seniors participate each month, receiving approximately 30 pounds of food each visit. The Senate bill funds CSFP at $176 million -enough to continue serving the existing caseload of approximately 604,000 people. The House reduces funding to $138.5 million, cutting off 450,000 recipients nationwide. In addition to advocating to preserve nutrition programs, KLF has been meeting with others who share an interest in a fair 2012 Appropriations Bill and a fair 2012 Food & Farm Bill. KLF, Fair Food Matters, the Peoples Food Co-op, Bronson Hospital, the Michigan Farmers Market Association, the MI Land Trust and others are working to educate our community about why the Farm Bill matters to all of us.