Follow the Money
This nutrition program serves more than 40 million Americans and is the largest Farm Bill title?
"What is SNAP?
The Federal Government spent $101.7 billion during fiscal year (FY) 2025, thought that represents just 1.4% of the total US Budget."
This title contains SNAP and other programs to help low-income Americans afford food for their families
"What is the Nutrition Title?
The Nutrition Title is the largest piece of farm bill funding, with just over $325 Billion over the course of 5 years. However, this programs is seen as simultaneously a nutrition, anti-poverty and economic stimulus program.
The P in EQIP stands for Environmental Quality Incentives this.
"What is Program?
EQIP participants install or implement certain practices – like improving irrigation efficiency - and in retrun, the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial cost-share assistance and technical assistance through a contractual agreement. In Michigan, many beginning farmers obtained hoophouses through the EQIP."
This Farm Bill-funded grant initiative that provides financial incentives to help low-income consumers purchase fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits and vegetables.
"What is The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)?
Michigan's Double Up Food Bucks program was a key model inspiring the GusNIP and Michigan advocates were part of ensuring this funding was included in the Farm Bill!"
Programs in this title help foster economic growth through rural business and community development.
"What is Rural Development?
RD includes helping rural farm businesses, and covers infrastructure like rural housing, certain building projects, and broadband access.
This USDA term refers to farmers who have experienced barriers to accessing federal programs.
What is "socially disadvantaged" farmers and ranchers?
Widely criticized for many reasons, this imperfect term nonetheless allows for USDA funding to be directed toward ""a farmer or rancher who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their identity as a member of a group without regard to their individual qualities" and more recently has been combined with veteran farmers and ranchers.
This Farm Bill program funds farmers markets, CSAs, and other direct-to-consumer marketing efforts.
"What is the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)?
FMPP and LFPP (Local Food Promotion Program) are administered together under an umbrella program known as Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)."
This title contains programs designed to support innovation, growing a public body of knowledge, and the development vital training for the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
"What is Research?
Officially called ""Research, Extension, and Related Matters"" in the last farm bill, advocates often refer to this as REE (or Research, Education, and Extension)"
Fruits, vegetables, nuts and nursery crops are considered examples of this type of crop.
"What are specialty crops?
These crops are considered ""specialty crops"" because they only represent 1.5% of all U.S. farmland. The Specialty Crop Block Grant program is administered by State Departments of Agriculture (MDARD) in Michigan's case, and support the marketing and growth of specialty crops."
These grant programs are essential to help farmers grow local food systems and process and market products made from the food they grow, like applesauce, jams and yogurts.
"What are Value Added Producer Grants?
These grants, which fall under the Rural Development title, are aimed at helping famers generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income."
This title covers farmers market and local food programs, funding for certain crop research programs, organic farming and other certification programs.
"What is the Horticulture Title?
LAMP, VAPG, and food hub-related investments are largely found in this title!"
The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) develops policies, sets rates, and subsidizes the costs for this major service to producers.
"What is Crop Insurance?
The 2014 Farm Bill included a win thanks to advocacy for sustainable and local/regional agriculture: the inclusion of a new whole-farm revenue protection policy which opened up new insurance products to help producers growing many different types of crops gain access to revenue insurance they didn't have before. There are additional products for organic growers and what we call ""conservation compliance"" for all producers using taxpayer subsidized insurance."