Textbox: The Farm Bill

Whether consumers get their food at a supermarket, a farmers market, a restaurant or a food bank, the Farm Bill had some impact on what they were eating. With the Farm Bill, a major piece of legislation that is revised and renewed about every 5 years, Congress sets the policies and programs that shape what food is available to the public, how it is produced and where it is sold. The Farm Bill covers government support for farmers, agricultural research and marketing, trade policies, energy issues, rural land use and conservation programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the primary government assistance program to help low-income families purchase food.