Farm Bill Progress Poses Funding Worries for Small Farmers
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The new five-year federal Farm Bill is currently moving through Congress, but some Pennsylvania growers argue that key conservation programs are not meeting their current needs. Jason Oddo, a vegetable farmer, says that the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a cost-sharing program to help farmers improve soil and water health, did not cover all his costs and can only be received once. Oddo believes that small vegetable growers need stronger, updated funding to stay competitive and that large livestock operations often have a heavier influence on agricultural policy.
New Federal Farm Bill Fails to Address Key Issues, Argues Pennsylvania Farmers
Some farmers in Pennsylvania have expressed concern over the federal Farm Bill, set to cover the next five years, stating that crucial conservation schemes are not aligning with their real-time needs. They point out that programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program are failing to keep pace with the actual requirements of the farming community.
Jason Oddo, who owns and operates a specialty vegetable farm, Coldco Farm, in western Pennsylvania, explains how the said program was a benefit in setting up a high-tunnel greenhouse. However, he called attention to the state’s $10,000 cap, which barely covered half of the cost. Additionally, farmers are only eligible for support once, posing challenges for small vegetable producers who need significant funding for remaining competitive.
Oddo said, “I think that the actual cost of the material is probably between $12,000 and $17,000 and once you get into labor, it goes well over $20,000 for installing stuff. The program is meant to fund high tunnels for farmers. It barely pays for half of the central cost of putting them up.”
The proposed Farm Bill, officially the “Farm, Food and National Security Act,” has recently gained the approval of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee and is heading towards the full House for further deliberation. The Senate will then begin devising its own version of the Farm Bill.
Oddo cautioned that the limited funding could hinder small farms from expanding their production or investing in sustainable infrastructure. He also felt that small vegetable growers have significantly less influence on agricultural policies compared to large livestock operations.
“My impression of agriculture in Pennsylvania is that the priority typically goes to large-scale meat productions, in particular, like pork and beef,” Oddo observed. “I feel like those are the farms that have a lot of sway with legislation.”
Oddo is amongst a group of farmers advocating for increased funding for small farm infrastructure. Supporters of the updated Farm Bill maintain that it would continue funding for conservation programs and would build on investments made through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
However, some observers have warned that higher payments for certain technologies, such as precision agriculture systems, could result in directing more conservation dollars towards larger farms.
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