Farm Bill Update - Implications for Public Health

In 2012, Congress will have the opportunity to reauthorize the Farm Bill, a multi-billion dollar piece of legislation that has tremendous implications for public health.  As its commonly used name suggests, the bill provides agriculture subsidies, but the vast majority of its spending is actually allocated to health-related program.   Fully 70 percent of Farm Bill funding supports nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, more commonly known as food stamps), which served more than 40 million people in 2010.  Funds for nutrition education programming, agricultural research, and community food projects are also included in the bill. 

Recognizing the broad implications that the 2012 reauthorization will have, APHA is drawing on the expertise of its members to ensure that the new version of the bill is supportive of public health.   In conjunction with the 2010 Annual Meeting, on Saturday, Nov. 6, APHA convened a forum to identify priority issues for the next Farm Bill.  Twenty-eight invited representatives from government agencies, food and health-focused NGOs, and APHA sections participated in the session.   Ashley Wennerstrom, CHPPD Section councilor and member of the New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee, attended on behalf of the Section.      

Forum participants identified several key concerns including:  continued support for SNAP and SNAP education programs; incentivizing the production of fruits and vegetables; supporting small-and mid-sized farmers; increasing access to healthful foods in underserved communities through fresh food financing and/or urban agriculture initiatives; and supporting research into and mitigation of effects of industrialized agriculture on food safety and the environment.  Participants identified a need to evaluate current Farm Bill-supported pilot projects and suggested that a comprehensive health impact assessment of the current legislation be undertaken.  Some members of the group suggested the addition of a public health title to the Farm Bill.       

APHA is beginning to develop its Farm Bill advocacy strategy based on forum participants’ suggestions, and it will continue to solicit input from its members and sections.   CHPPD members interested in learning more about APHA’s Farm Bill efforts may contact Ashley Wennerstrom at awenners@tulane.edu or (504) 988-4007. 

Submitted by Ashley Wennerstorm