The Farm Bill Affects All of Us

If you've never heard of the Farm Bill, now is the time to get up to speed.

What is the Farm Bill?

The Farm Bill is a federal bipartisan package of bills that impacts the US agriculture sector in many ways — from farm livelihoods and crop insurance to emergency food assistance programs and rural development. The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. It provides an opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues.

Why is this important?

In Arizona 798,790 adults and 269,640 children remain food insecure. In 2022 AzFBN member food banks - Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, HonorHealth Desert Mission Food Bank, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, United Food Bank and Yuma Community Food Bank - collectively distributed 172 million pounds of food. That is enough food to fill 3,308 semi-trailers!

Despite this massive number, food banks alone can't ensure that everyone has enough to eat.

That’s why SNAP (formerly food stamps) is so important. Key components of the SNAP benefit program are decided in the Farm Bill, which is renewed every five years. The deadline for congress to make a decision is September 30th.

Your support and awareness can make a difference.

Want to learn more about the upcoming Farm Bill?

Read Arizona Food Bank Network’s advocacy priorities here and find ways you can take action here.