History of United States farm bill in Timeline

The United States farm bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation, updated roughly every 5-6 years, that shapes federal agricultural and food policy. Its primary focus lies on farm subsidies, which provide financial support to farmers for specific commodities. A significant portion of the bill is dedicated to nutrition assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), offering aid to low-income individuals and families. The bill also addresses conservation efforts, promoting sustainable farming practices and land stewardship. Additional aspects include rural development initiatives, agricultural research funding, and trade policies related to agricultural products. The farm bill's multifaceted nature impacts not only farmers and consumers but also the environment and rural communities.

1929: Hoover Sets Up Federal Farm Board

In 1929, as president, Herbert Hoover set up the Federal Farm Board to promote efficiency and assist the funding of cooperatives.

1929: Start of the Great Depression

In 1929, the Great Depression began, causing farm prices and exports to fall sharply.

May 12, 1933: Agricultural Adjustment Act Signed into Law

On May 12, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) of 1933 into law, which included a nutrition program for consumers, the precursor to food stamps.

1933: End of Hoover's Presidency

In 1933, Herbert Hoover's presidency came to an end.

1933: Farm Bills Beginning

In 1933, farm bills began including sections on commodity programs, trade, rural development, farm credit, conservation, agricultural research, food and nutrition programs, and marketing.

1933: Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) Established

In 1933, the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) established a federal role in limiting the production of certain agricultural crops, hoping to reduce supply and artificially inflate food crop prices.

1933: Start of New Deal Programs

In 1933, the New Deal started programs such as the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) which made loans against newly planted crops, and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), which paid farmers to replace cash crops with soil conservation grasses.

1934: Farm Credit Administration (FCA)

In 1934, the temporary Farm Credit Administration (FCA) refinanced farm mortgages at lower interest rates.

1935: Farm Credit Administration (FCA)

In 1935, the temporary Farm Credit Administration (FCA) refinanced farm mortgages at lower interest rates.

January 6, 1936: AAA Deemed Unconstitutional

On January 6, 1936, the Supreme Court deemed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) unconstitutional, due to the processing tax used to finance payments to farmers and the Court ruling government regulation of agricultural production within the states unconstitutional.

1938: Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 Created

In 1938, Congress created a more permanent farm bill known as the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, with a built-in requirement to update it every five years. The Commodity Credit Corporation limited farm acreage and purchased surplus crops to maintain high prices for farmers.

1948: Charles Brannan Appointed Secretary of Agriculture

In 1948, Charles Brannan was appointed as the fourteenth United States Secretary of Agriculture.

1949: Brannan Plan Proposal

In 1949, Charles Brannan proposed the "compensatory payments" plan to farmers to resolve large agricultural surpluses from price supports. It was blocked by conservatives.

June 1950: Korean War and the Brannan Plan

In June 1950, the start of the Korean War made agricultural surpluses a vital weapon, causing prices to soar and rendering the Brannan Plan irrelevant.

1953: End of Charles Brannan's Term

In 1953, Charles Brannan's term as the United States Secretary of Agriculture came to an end.

1953: Surplus Crops as Foreign Aid

In 1953, Senator Hubert Humphrey convinced Congress to use the Commodity Credit Corporation's store of surplus crops as part of American foreign aid, allowing needy nations to buy grain with local currencies.

1981: Reagan's Farm Programs and 1981 farm bill

In 1981, The Reagan administration's farm programs were not successful, and the 1981 farm bill involved only small changes and continued the policy of restricting supply. Federal budget outlays reached $60 billion, while real farm income declined.

1984: Budget Proposal Rejected

In 1984, Reagan's budget proposal to cut subsidies was rejected by Congress.

1985: Reagan Signs 1985 Farm Bill

In 1985, Reagan reluctantly signed the 1985 farm bill, continuing the same policies.

1989: End of Reagan's Presidency

In 1989, Ronald Reagan's presidency came to an end.

1993: End of Bush Administration

In 1993, The George H.W. Bush administration ended, continuing the same farm policies.

1996: Structural Change to Farm Bill

In 1996, Congress decided farm incomes should be determined by free market forces, stopped subsidizing farmland and purchasing extra grain, and required farmers to enroll in a crop insurance program. Direct payments also began in the late 1990s to support struggling farmers.

1996: Comparison to 1996 Bill

In 2002, when the Farm Security Act of 2002 was signed into law, it was compared with the 1996 bill. The Farm Security Act of 2002 changed the farm payment program, introduced counter-cyclical farm income support, mandated the expansion of conservation land retirement programs, emphasized environmental practices, restored the eligibility of legal immigrants to food stamps, relaxed farm credit assistance rules, included commodities requiring labeling from their country of origin, and included new provisions on animal welfare.

May 13, 2002: Farm Security Act of 2002 Signed into Law

On May 13, 2002, the Farm Security Act of 2002 was signed into law. It altered the farm payment program, introduced counter-cyclical farm income support, mandated the expansion of conservation land retirement programs, emphasized environmental practices, restored the eligibility of legal immigrants to food stamps, relaxed farm credit assistance rules, included commodities requiring labeling from their country of origin, and included new provisions on animal welfare.

2007: Farmers Receiving Subsidies

In 2007, it was found that about 62 percent of farmers did not receive subsidies from the farm bill.

2007: World Food Price Crisis

The 2008 Farm bill increased subsidies for biofuels which the World Bank has named as one of three most important contributors, along with high fuel prices and price speculation, to the 2007–2008 world food price crisis.

2008: Controversy over increased spending in 2008 Farm Bill

In 2008, the 2008 Farm bill increased spending to $288Bn therefore causing controversy at the time by increasing the budget deficit.

2008: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 Passed

In 2008, the farm bill was passed as the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The bill included approximately $100 billion in annual spending for Department of Agriculture programs, around 80 percent of which was allocated for food stamps and other nutritional programs.

2008: 2008 Farm Bill Extended

In 2012, Congress extended the 2008 farm bill until September 30, 2013, as a part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

2008: Bush Vetoes 2008 Farm Bill

President George W. Bush vetoed the 2008 farm bill because of its size and cost; however, the veto was overridden by Congress.

2012: Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act Fails to Pass

In 2012, Congress proposed ways to cut costs in the new farm bill, known as the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, but the bill ultimately failed to pass in the House. Food stamps and nutrition remained the largest portion of the bill's cost.

January 1, 2013: American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 Passed

On January 1, 2013, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which included the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill.

September 30, 2013: Extension of 2008 Farm Bill

On September 30, 2013, Congress extended the 2008 farm bill due to the failure of the 2012 bill to pass.

2018: Bayer Ownership of Monsanto

In 2018, Monsanto became owned by Bayer.

2018: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018

In 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 United States farm bill, was enacted.

2019: Corteva Ownership of Pioneer Hi Bred International

In 2019, Pioneer Hi Bred International became owned by Corteva.

2025: US Federal Shutdown Ended

In 2025, Public Law 119-37 ended the United States federal government shutdown.

September 30, 2026: Agriculture Improvement Act Extended

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 was extended until September 30, 2026, through the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2026, which was included in Public Law 119-37.