1. Where is The Power in Agricultural and Food Policy? Agriculture’s iron triangle Government – Other Organizations – Other departments Chapters 3 and 4 of Knutson, Penn, and Flinchbaugh

2. Agriculture’s Iron Triangle

3. Executive Branch

4. Cabinet Vice President Heads of 15 Executive Departments Attorney General Under G.W. Bush Also –EPA –OMB –National Drug Control Policy –USTR (Robert Zoellick)

5. Executive Departments Agriculture (USDA) Commerce (DOC) Defense (DOD) Education Energy (DOE) Health & Human Services (HHS) Homeland Security Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Interior (DOI) Justice (DOJ) Labor (DOL) State (DOS) Transportation (DOT) Treasury Veteran Affairs

6. Structure of USDA NASS Secretary Deputy Food, Nutrition & Consumer Services FNSCNPP Food Safety FSIS Farm & Foreign Ag Services FSAFASRMA Marketing & Regulatory Programs AMSAPHISGIPSA Rural Development RBSOCDRHSRUS Natural Resources & Environment FS NRCS Research, Education & Economics ARSCSREESERS

7. Legislative Branch “All Legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” Article I, Section 1 Membership

8. Functions of Congress Authorization Appropriation Oversight

9. How a Bill Becomes a Law Constituents Congress Executive/Departments Policy Proposals Subcommittee Hearings <> Mark-up Committee Debate <> Approval Floor Debate <> Amend <> Approval Conference Committee Hammer out differences between House & Senate Floor Approval in Both President Sign <> Veto <> Pocket Veto House and/or Senate Committee

10. A Simplified Overview of Budget Authorization and Appropriations Process Congress President's Budget Budget Committees Authorizing Committees Appropriations Committees & Subcommittees Tax Committees OMB and Exec. Agencies Floor Final Budget Through Conference Committee (Oct 1) (Late Jan.) Budget Resol. (Apr. 15) Recommendations (March 15) Authorizing Bills (May 15) Adopted Budget Resolution Appropriations Bills

11. Action is in Committees (House and Senate 109 th Congress) Overall Congressional Leadership –Senate Majority: Minority: –Speaker of the House: J. Dennis Hastert (R, IL) Majority: Minority: Budget Committee (sets limits on spending) –Senate Majority: Minority: –House Majority: Minority:

12. Action is in Committees (109th.) Agriculture Committee (authorizes ag. and nutrition legislation) –Senate Majority: Minority: –House Majority: Minority: Agriculture appropriations subcommittee ( decides what/who gets money ) –Senate Majority: Minority: –House Majority: Minority:

13. Majority is really important

14. Farm Organizations General farm/agribusiness organizations – Commodity organizations – –Every commodity has one, and some have multiple

15. Commodity Organizations Most effective organizations in agriculture because of focused commodity interests Most effective are those that represent entire industry (NCC) Beef has had conflicts among cattlemen and NCBA If producer organization goes head-to-head with agribusiness, agribusiness normally wins (ex., packer in beef) Almost always have related state organizations Party alignment is an interesting issue

16. Public Interest Groups Typically focus on only 1 issue Environment – Hunger lobby Animal rights Consumer lobby

17. Agribusinesses/Trade Associations Restaurant Associations Equipment dealers Chemical Applicators International Dairy Foods Association

18. Farm Equipment Assoc. Ag Electronics Association (AEA) Agricultural & Industrial Manufacturers Reps Association (AIMRA)Agricultural & Industrial Manufacturers Reps Association (AIMRA) Agricultural Retailers Association American Society of Agricultural Consultants (ASAC) American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) American Society of Farm Equipment Appraisers Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Canada West Equipment Dealers Association Canadian Farm & Industrial Equipment Institute (CFIEI)Canadian Farm & Industrial Equipment Institute (CFIEI) Canadian Farm Builders Association Canadian Society for Engineering in Ag, Food & Biological Systems (CSAE)Canadian Society for Engineering in Ag, Food & Biological Systems (CSAE) Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association (FEWA) Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association Irrigation Association Italian Trade Commission Lawn & Garden Marketing & Distribution Association Midwest Equipment Dealers Association Mississippi Valley Equipment Association (MVEA)Mississippi Valley Equipment Association (MVEA) National Agri-Marketing Association North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA)North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association Ontario Retail Farm Equipment Dealers AssociationOntario Retail Farm Equipment Dealers Association Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Pacific Northwest Association Prairie Implement Manufacturers Association (PIMA)Prairie Implement Manufacturers Association (PIMA) Propane Education & Research Council Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP)Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) South West Hardware & Implement Association (SWHIA)South West Hardware & Implement Association (SWHIA) Texas Agricultural Irrigation Association Tractor & Machinery Association of Australia UNAMOMA/COMAMOTER Western Association

19. Summary General farm/Agribusiness interests generally broader than commodity policy −Trade −Tax policy Often have related state organizations Often aligned with political party Agribusiness firms often have…