Support County Priorities as Congress Begins Work on Next Farm Bill

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Support County Priorities as Congress Begins Work on Next Farm Bill
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Document
Support County Priorities as Congress Begins Work on Next Farm Bill
ACTION NEEDED:
This year, Congress begins negotiations for the reauthorization of a new Farm Bill. Current legislation, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), expires at the end of FY 2023. NACo will continue to work with federal partners to ensure a new, long-term Farm Bill reauthorization that includes key county priorities is signed into law in 2023.
Urge your members of Congress to support county priorities throughout the development of the 2023 Farm Bill. Farm Bill programs help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, nutrition and conservation. Preserving and expanding these programs is vital to the continued prosperity of rural counties and the communities they serve.
BACKGROUND:
Last authorized for five years in 2018 as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), the 2018 Farm Bill was a major piece of bipartisan legislation that authorized $428.3 billion in funding for a broad range of USDA programs important to counties.
The Farm Bill contains 12 titles in key areas including Commodity Programs for our nation’s producers, Conservation and Forestry provisions, Nutrition, Credit, and Rural Development. Counties support full funding for each title of the Farm Bill. The programs authorized through the bill help strengthen rural infrastructure – including broadband and water and wastewater systems, support rural development initiatives coordinated with local officials to protect our nation’s food supply, increase access to healthy food for low-income populations through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and promote environmental stewardship and conservation.
NACo successfully advocated for the inclusion of several key county priorities within the 2018 Farm Bill, including:
- Securing the permanent reinstatement of the Undersecretary of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who oversees the over $200 billion USDA Rural Development portfolio.
- Establishing the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program, which helps counties strengthen the local economy through partnerships with the private sector and institutions of higher education
- Including $350 million for the deployment of rural broadband through initiatives such as the ReConnect Program, the Community Connect Program, and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
With the current legislation set to expire on September 30, 2023, the U.S. Congress is working to draft a new, five-year Farm Bill with congressional hearings already underway to determine public and private stakeholders’ priorities for the reauthorization.
Farm Bill programs of interest to counties include:
- $150 million for the Water and Waste Water Program: Rural Water and Wastewater Programs help counties fund and finance critical water infrastructure and provide access to affordable and clean water to rural communities.
- $82 million for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program: This program helps rural communities access and utilize the internet, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications, including counties and federally-recognized tribes.
- $50 million for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program: The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers.
- SNAP Reauthorization: The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized and maintained existing eligibility and work requirements for the SNAP program. The legislation also expanded job training and other SNAP Employment and Training programs originally authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
- $350 million for rural broadband infrastructure and increased the flexibility for USDA broadband loans and grants.
KEY TALKING POINTS:
- All titles of the Farm Bill are important to the vitality of our nation. Counties support full funding of all titles of this important legislation.
- The Rural Development title supports rural business and community development and addresses a wide range of policy issues concerning rural America, including equity capital development in rural areas, regional economic planning and development, essential community facilities, water and wastewater infrastructure needs, value-added agricultural development and broadband telecommunications development
- Urge your members of Congress to support county priorities throughout the development of the 2023 Farm Bill. Programs throughout the Farm Bill help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, nutrition and conservation. Preserving these programs is vital to the strength of our local and national economies.
ACTION NEEDED:2023-01-25Policy Brief2023-01-25
ACTION NEEDED:
This year, Congress begins negotiations for the reauthorization of a new Farm Bill. Current legislation, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), expires at the end of FY 2023. NACo will continue to work with federal partners to ensure a new, long-term Farm Bill reauthorization that includes key county priorities is signed into law in 2023.
Urge your members of Congress to support county priorities throughout the development of the 2023 Farm Bill. Farm Bill programs help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, nutrition and conservation. Preserving and expanding these programs is vital to the continued prosperity of rural counties and the communities they serve.
BACKGROUND:
Last authorized for five years in 2018 as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), the 2018 Farm Bill was a major piece of bipartisan legislation that authorized $428.3 billion in funding for a broad range of USDA programs important to counties.
The Farm Bill contains 12 titles in key areas including Commodity Programs for our nation’s producers, Conservation and Forestry provisions, Nutrition, Credit, and Rural Development. Counties support full funding for each title of the Farm Bill. The programs authorized through the bill help strengthen rural infrastructure – including broadband and water and wastewater systems, support rural development initiatives coordinated with local officials to protect our nation’s food supply, increase access to healthy food for low-income populations through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and promote environmental stewardship and conservation.
NACo successfully advocated for the inclusion of several key county priorities within the 2018 Farm Bill, including:
- Securing the permanent reinstatement of the Undersecretary of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who oversees the over $200 billion USDA Rural Development portfolio.
- Establishing the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program, which helps counties strengthen the local economy through partnerships with the private sector and institutions of higher education
- Including $350 million for the deployment of rural broadband through initiatives such as the ReConnect Program, the Community Connect Program, and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program
With the current legislation set to expire on September 30, 2023, the U.S. Congress is working to draft a new, five-year Farm Bill with congressional hearings already underway to determine public and private stakeholders’ priorities for the reauthorization.
Farm Bill programs of interest to counties include:
- $150 million for the Water and Waste Water Program: Rural Water and Wastewater Programs help counties fund and finance critical water infrastructure and provide access to affordable and clean water to rural communities.
- $82 million for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program: This program helps rural communities access and utilize the internet, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Eligible applicants include most entities that provide education or health care through telecommunications, including counties and federally-recognized tribes.
- $50 million for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program: The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers.
- SNAP Reauthorization: The 2018 Farm Bill reauthorized and maintained existing eligibility and work requirements for the SNAP program. The legislation also expanded job training and other SNAP Employment and Training programs originally authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
- $350 million for rural broadband infrastructure and increased the flexibility for USDA broadband loans and grants.
KEY TALKING POINTS:
- All titles of the Farm Bill are important to the vitality of our nation. Counties support full funding of all titles of this important legislation.
- The Rural Development title supports rural business and community development and addresses a wide range of policy issues concerning rural America, including equity capital development in rural areas, regional economic planning and development, essential community facilities, water and wastewater infrastructure needs, value-added agricultural development and broadband telecommunications development
- Urge your members of Congress to support county priorities throughout the development of the 2023 Farm Bill. Programs throughout the Farm Bill help counties make critical investments in infrastructure, economic development, nutrition and conservation. Preserving these programs is vital to the strength of our local and national economies.

About Owen Hart (Full Bio)
Legislative Associate
Owen is NACo's legislative associate for agriculture & rural affairs, public lands, and the western interstate region. He serves as the staff liaison to the Agriculture & Rural Affairs (AgRA) Steering Committee.More from Owen Hart
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Reports & Toolkits
Primer for Counties: 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization
NACo's primer on the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization breaks down the process counties can expect this year, highlights key county priorities and explains how counties can access funds authorized through the Farm Bill.
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County News
Colorado county’s new camping ordinance opens doors for private landowners
Caught between old zoning and new short-term rental regulations, private landowners face complications to allow camping on their property. Chaffee County, Colo. passed an ordinance addressing this problem. -
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Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce bill to fully extend Good Neighbor Authority eligibility to counties
On March 8, three lawmakers – Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) – introduced S.697/H.R.1450 – Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act. -
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County commissioners testify before Congress on county role in public lands management, Farm Bill
On March 8, two county commissioners delivered testimony before Congressional Committees on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo). -
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Counties testify on public lands management and the 2023 Farm Bill
Idaho County, Idaho Commissioner Skip Brandt testifies on the county role in public lands management and share recommendations for how the 2023 Farm Bill can strengthen the partnership between counties and our federal partners -
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Key staff stress broadband, bipartisanship in new farm bill
NACo members heard from Congressional committee staff crucial to the farm bill's passage and NACo released counties' priorities for the legislation. -
Blog
NACo Releases County Priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill
The National Association of Counties (NACo), which represents all of America's 3,069 county governments, seeks to work with our federal partners to develop a substantive farm bill to strengthen federal resources that allow counties to make critical investments in our nation's most underserved populations.
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TestIT: How Fast is Your Broadband
NACo has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) to develop a mobile app designed to identify areas with low or no connectivity to help ensure adequate funding for broadband infrastructure is provided across the country.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
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Agriculture & Rural Affairs Steering Committee
Responsible for all matters pertaining to USDA agriculture, rural development programs, rural renewable energy development, research and extension, food safety, and conservation programs. Policy Platform 2022-2023 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>Responsible for all matters pertaining to USDA agriculture, rural development programs, rural renewable energy development, research and extension, food safety, and conservation programs. </p>
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Rural Action Caucus
The Rural Action Caucus (RAC) is a key component of NACo's mission in supporting county officials in the pursuit of excellence in public service. RAC is the voice for America's rural counties, which represent two-thirds of the nation's 3,069 counties designated as rural, serving a combined population of 60 million.pagepagepage<p><strong>Since 1997, the Rural Action Caucus (RAC) has represented the nearly 70 percent of America's counties that are rural, addressing critical federal, state and local issues impacting these unique communities.
Contact
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Legislative Associate(202) 942-4280
Related News
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County NewsKey staff stress broadband, bipartisanship in new farm billFeb. 22, 2023
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BlogNACo Releases County Priorities for the 2023 Farm BillFeb. 22, 2023
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County NewsEconomic opportunity awaits rural and urban farmers, says USDA Sec. VilsackFeb. 12, 2023
Related Resources
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VideoCounties testify on public lands management and the 2023 Farm BillMar. 8, 2023
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Reports & ToolkitsLegislative Analysis for Counties: The Inflation Reduction ActFeb. 22, 2023
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Policy BriefMaintain Funding for USDA Rural Development ProgramsJan. 25, 2023
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