1. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
2018 FARM BILL
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

2. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
2014 FARM BILL REVIEW
Signed into law on February 7, 2014
$950+ billion legislation
2.1% of overall federal government spending
Wide-sweeping farm program changes
Cotton no longer a covered commodity
Heavy focus on crop insurance, nutrition reforms, and conservation
Bill two years late
Bitter fight in House; split bills
Senator Boozman & Congressman Crawford on Conference Committee
Training issues for producers
Implementation and program administration issues for USDA
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

3. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
2018 FARM BILL PROSPECTS
PROS
CONS
Learned much from ‘14
No drastic program changes
“Evolutionary,” not “Revolutionary” bill
Cotton back in Title I via appropriations
Much different farm economy than in 2014
Hyper-partisan political environment
Constant calls for budgetary cuts
Rural - urban divide widening
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

4. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
2018 FARM BILL VOTES
HOUSE
SENATE
Agriculture Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2)
First vote failed 213 to 198 on May 18
Second vote passed 213 to 211 on June 21
No Democratic votes in favor
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (S. 3042)
Bipartisan support
Passed on June 28
Most votes in Senate history for a Farm Bill
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

5. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
2018 FARM BILL VERSIONS
HOUSE
SENATE
PLC and ARC maintained; ability for PLC reference price to increase
Flexibility added to “actively engaged” definition
Rolls CSP into EQIP
Work requirements in Nutrition Title
PLC and ARC maintained; slight improvements to ARC
No drop in overall conservation spending but cuts to CSP & EQIP
Lowers AGI limit from $900k to $700k
Grassley amendment tightens “actively engaged” definition
Hemp provision (McConnell Priority)
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

6. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
FARM BILL CONFERENCE
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Senator Boozman, Congressman Crawford, and Congressman Westerman on Conference Committee; 47 Members from House and 9 Members from Senate
Conference Committee will likely meet in September
McConnell, Conaway, and Roberts have indicated priority of passing farm bill
Must resolve difference with work requirements, including President Trump’s indications of not signing a bill without them
Must resolve differences on AGI means testing and “actively engaged”
10 Senators and all of House are up for reelection
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

7. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
ELSEWHERE IN AG
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Tariffs struggle with China
USDA Trade Assistance Program — $12 billion
Cuba — Stay tuned.
Other priorities (trade, Committee assignments, etc.)
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

8. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
REP. CRAWFORD
Importance of Agricultural Legislation
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov

9. boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov
CONTACT US
Ty Davis
U.S. Senator John Boozman (AR)
620 E. 22nd St., Ste. 204
Stuttgart, AR 72160
Office: (870)
Mobile: (870)
Mitchell Nail
U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (AR-01)
2400 E Highland Dr., Ste. 300
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Office: (870)
Mobile: (870)
boozman.senate.gov & crawford.house.gov