developments in u.s. cotton farm legislation

摘要

The U.S. Congress is currently working toward reauthorization of the farm bill, which is generally updated every five years to support and regulate agriculture. The farm bill uses a variety of mechanisms to support producer income when prices fall orcrops fail; past bills have bundled a number of provisions together, including conservation, research, and a supplemental nutrition assistance program for low-income Americans. The current farm bill was enacted in 2008, and was extended last year to cover the 2013 crop because it was due to expire. The Agriculture Committees of both chambers of Congress have drafted new farm bills, covering the 2014 through 2018 crops. The U.S. Senate passed its farm bill on June 10,2013; however, the House of Representatives rejected its committee-passed farm bill in a vote taken on June 20, due mainly to a disagreement about the level of supplemental nutrition assistance. On July 11, the House passed a bill which addresses only renewal of the farm-related provisions,and not nutrition assistance. Since the two chambers now have bills that differ in scope, it is unclear how the two versions will be reconciled. If new legislation is not passed, then another extension will be needed to prevent the reestablishment of outdated and onerous provisions contained in permanent law.