Farm Bill

The Farm Bill helps to fight hunger in Idaho


The Farm Bill Expires September 2024

The U.S. Congress passes funding for the Farm Bill every five years. The 2023 bill, however, was not passed. Since legislators could not agree on the various aspects and overall funding of the 2023 bill, the 2018 Farm Bill was extended until September 2024. Advocacy for the Farm Bill and the food and nutrition programs that this bill funds is, thus, ongoing.

Domestic Hunger Programs

The Farm Bill contains funding for many of the domestic hunger programs, including:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly called the Food Stamp program)

  • WIC for pregnant people and children under five

  • Programs to help low-income people obtain more fresh produce at farmers markets and elsewhere

Subsidized Foods

The Farm Bill is significant for farmers and ranchers because it determines what foods are and are not subsidized by taxpayers. This bill thus impacts:

  • Civil rights for non-white farmers and ranchers

  • International food insecurity, hunger, and agriculture

  • International trade

  • Food safety for domestic meats and poultry

  • Rural economic development in the United States

Our Advocacy Asks

Realistic SNAP Benefits

No cuts or restrictions to the benefits and ensuring SNAP benefits reflect the cost of a healthy diet. Increasing SNAP eligibility to 200% of the poverty line and allowing benefits to ramp down as income increases.

Making the Thrifty Food Plan Increase Permanent in SNAP

The Thrifty Food Plan provides specific amounts of various food categories, such as dark green vegetables, whole fruit, and poultry, offering a practical, cost-effective diet that meets dietary guidance.

Continued Funding of Produce Prescription Programs

In 2014, funding was included for Produce Prescription Programs in the Farm Bill. We support continuing this funding and increasing it, as needed, based on inflation.

Easier Home Deliveries

Make it even easier for participants to use and for Farmers' Markets and smaller retailers to redeem SNAP and WIC online for home deliveries.

Increased Emergency Food Assistance

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. IHRTF advocated for allowing TEFAP to purchase food from local and regional farmers.