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2008 Farm Bill Side-By-Side

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The 2008 Farm Bill Side-By-Side Comparison

videoSide by Side: Old and New. On the following pages is a side-by-side comparison of the new farm bill with previous legislation. Summarized but substantive, it offers a time-saving reference to farm bill provisions. In addition to key provisions and details by Title, the side-by-side includes links to related ERS publications and to analyses of previous farm acts. New features include a user's guide, an A-Z list of major provisions, and a search function.

This side-by-side is not a complete digest of all provisions in the new Farm Bill, nor does it include every element within covered key provisions. Users needing a comprehensive list of provisions or the specific language of a particular provision are encouraged to
download the 2008 Farm BillPDF file icon (1.65 MB).

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, enacted into law in June 2008, will govern the bulk of Federal agriculture and related programs for the next 5 years. Its 15 titles include administrative and funding authorities for programs that cover income and commodity price support, farm credit, and risk management; conservation though land retirement, stewardship of land and water resources, and farmland protection; food assistance and agricultural development efforts abroad and promotion of international access to American farm products; food stamps, domestic food distribution, and nutrition initiatives; rural community and economic development initiatives, including regional development, rural energy efficiency, water and waste facilities, and access to broadband technology; research on critical areas of the agricultural and food sector; accessibility and sustainability of forests; encouraging production and use of agricultural and rural renewable energy sources; and initiatives for attracting and retaining beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

See 2008 Farm Bill Overview for a brief description of major changes to farm legislation contained in the 2008 Farm Act.

Printer friendly PDF (4.0 MB) as of April 15, 2009

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For more information, contact: Farm policy team

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: April 15, 2009