How to Handle Farm Bill Issues in an Extension Education Setting? Principles of Public Policy Education Dr. Mark A. Edelman, Director Community Vitality Center Professor of Economics and Extension Economist Iowa State University Extension Farm Bill Web Cast Series June 1, 2007 June 1, 2007

How Public Policy Problems are Different  Key Differences: Group Rather than Individual Decisions Group Rather than Individual Decisions People Have Different Circumstances People Have Different Circumstances People Hold Different Values on What Should Be People Hold Different Values on What Should Be People Differ in Goals and Objectives People Differ in Goals and Objectives  Conflicting Views on What Ought to be Done

Advocate vs Educator  An Advocate believes they have the best solution to a problem, tries to convince others, and encourages others to support their cause in the political process.  An Educator enhances learning and understanding, assists others in making their own decisions, and facilitates participation in the process

Science Can’t Always Solve Problems  Science solves problems when Single objective and relatively few goals Single objective and relatively few goals Objective is clearly revealed and measurable Objective is clearly revealed and measurable Everyone in group agrees with objective & goals Everyone in group agrees with objective & goals  Public Policy Issues have Multiple objectives and goals Multiple objectives and goals Objectives that are unknown or not revealed Objectives that are unknown or not revealed Differing value judgments on what should be done Differing value judgments on what should be done  Science is only a decision tool

Role of Public Policy Educators in a Democracy Present Facts Present Facts (evidence of what exists) Destroy Myths Destroy Myths (incorrect notions that people believe are facts) Allow citizens & leaders to apply their own values Allow citizens & leaders to apply their own values Facilitate understanding of areas of agreement & differences Facilitate understanding of areas of agreement & differences Facilitate participation in process Facilitate participation in process

Models for Public Policy Education 1. Observe/Do Nothing 2. Inform/Statistician 3. Advocate/Prescriber ? 4. Analytical Advocate (Pros & Cons) ? 5. Analytical Optimizer (Math) ? 6. Alternatives and Consequences 7. Process Facilitator

Process Facilitator Helping Clients & Clientele Make Views Count  Enhancing Familiarity with Issues History of Proposals, Supporters and Opponents History of Proposals, Supporters and Opponents Popularity of Ideas Popularity of Ideas Costs, Benefits, and Tradeoffs Costs, Benefits, and Tradeoffs  Knowing the Decision-Makers History of Views and Supporters History of Views and Supporters Personal Relationships Personal Relationships Group Relationships Group Relationships  Knowing the Process

Knowing Farm Bill Processes  Troika (3 horse hitch) Interest Groups (Ag, Environment, Food, & Rural Dev) Interest Groups (Ag, Environment, Food, & Rural Dev) Executive Agencies Executive Agencies Congressional Committees Congressional Committees  Legislative Process Leadership Control (Majority Rules) Leadership Control (Majority Rules) Content Control (Authorization and Oversight) Content Control (Authorization and Oversight) Budget Control (Appropriations) Budget Control (Appropriations)  Best Practices for Communication & Building Relationships

The Farm Bill Legislative Process  Administration Hearings and Proposals  Ag & Ag Approps Committee Assignments (Leadership)  Budget Targets and Appropriations (Budget)  House & Senate Ag Committees (Authorization) Subcommittee Hearings & Proposals Subcommittee Hearings & Proposals Markup to Committee Proposal Markup to Committee Proposal Floor Debate Floor Debate Passage by Both Houses Passage by Both Houses  Conference Committee to Iron out Differences Concurrence by Both Houses Concurrence by Both Houses  Presidential Signature or Veto

Who Sits on the Ag Committees? Senate Members - 21 North Central - 11  IA, ND, MI, NE, OH, MN  IN, KS, MN, SD, IA South - 5  AR, GA, MS, KY, SC Northeast - 2  VT, PA West - 3  MT,CO, ID House Members - 46 North Central - 18  MN, IA, SD, IN, KS, OH, MN, WI, ND, IN  KS, IL, MO, IA, NE, OH, NE, MI South - 19  NC, NC, GA, GA, TX, TN, GA, TX, FL  VA, AL, OK, NC, AL, AL, TX, LA, NC, TX Northeast - 3  PA, NY, NY West - 6  CA, CA, CA, CO  CO, CA

Funds Available Senate Target:  $20 billion over 5 Years above Baseline House Target:  $15 billion over 5 years above Baseline

2007 Farm Bill Issues and Resources  Iowa Farmer Preferences on 2007 Farm Bill Issues (PDF file) Iowa Farmer Preferences on 2007 Farm Bill Issues Iowa Farmer Preferences on 2007 Farm Bill Issues  The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences, 2006 The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences, 2006 The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences, 2006  USDA 2007 Farm Bill Page USDA 2007 Farm Bill Page USDA 2007 Farm Bill Page  Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry  House Agriculture Committee House Agriculture Committee House Agriculture Committee Policy Centers specializing in Farm Bill Issues Analysis  CARD (Iowa State University) CARD (Iowa State University) CARD (Iowa State University)  Agriculture and Food Policy Center (Texas A&M) Agriculture and Food Policy Center (Texas A&M) Agriculture and Food Policy Center (Texas A&M)  Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (University of Tennessee) Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (University of Tennessee) Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (University of Tennessee)  Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (Missouri)  Rural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Rural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Rural Policy Research Institute (Missouri)  Farm Foundation (Chicago) Farm Foundation (Chicago) Farm Foundation (Chicago) Extension Public Policy Education Principles  Public Policy Education by Richard Barrows (PDF file) Public Policy Education by Richard Barrows Public Policy Education by Richard Barrows CVC Web Site: