Woods Institute - U.S. Farm Bill Workshops

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Results & Publications

The first two workshops have already generated valuable changes in public policy. For example:

Department of Agriculture officials left the February 2006 workshop with ideas for improving their existing conservation programs without the need for new legislation.
The Department of Agriculture has already started several new pilot projects based on the lessons of the February workshop.
The head of the National Association of Conservation Districts has asked to work with Stanford University to pilot a program based on an idea developed at the February workshop. Under this program, conservation districts might become "ecosystem service districts" that help farmers increase their profits by producing valuable environmental services.

Farm Bill Book

U.S. Agricultural Policy and The 2007 Farm Bill
(Farm Bill Book PDF - 13mb)

(Editors: Kaush Arha, Tim Josling, Daniel A . Sumner, and Barton H. Thompson - Published by the Woods Institute for the Environment)

Farm Bill Book Chapter Summaries
(Note: Full chapters are within the Farm Bill Book; downloadable pdf above)

Chapter II-1: Commodity Policy and the 2007 Farm Bill
Reviews the historical background of current programs, highlights main features of important commodity programs, discusses their implications, and considers forces likely to affect the 2007 Farm Bill. (Sumner, Arha & Josling)
Chapter II-2: US Commodity Programs and WTO Commitments
Reviews constraints on U.S. farm policy as a result of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, summarizes the current situation in the WTO Doha Round of trade negotiations, and discusses possible constraints on the commodity chapter of the 2007 Farm Bill. (Josling, Blandford, Arha & Sumner)
Chapter II-3: 2003 Reform of the European Unions Common Agricultureal Policy
Discusses the 2003 reform of the C.A.P., its potential relevance for the U.S. farm policy debate, and differences in the institutional setting and policy responses of both transatlantic partners. (Haniotis)
Chapter II-4: Agricultural Expansion and Policies in Brazil
Discusses the expansion of the Brazilian agricultural sector since the 1970s, analyzes the objectives of Brazilian agricultural policy, and explores Brazil’s subsidies, environmental concerns, social dumping; and family farming. (Damico & Nassar)
Chapter III-1: Managing US Agricultural Lands for Ecosystem Services
Explores reasons for managing agricultural lands to promote ecosystem services, strategies and incentives, and future research. (Goldman, Thompson & Daily)
Chapter III-2: US Agriculture Conservation Policy and Programs
Explores the early and recent history of USDA conservation policy and programs, their current status, trends, and implications for future conservation policy and programs. (Cox)
Chapter III-3: Environmental Integration Into Agricultural Policy in the European Union
Discusses the interrelationships between environment, agriculture and policy in the European Union. (Hammell)
Chapter III-4: Agri-Environmental Programs in O.E.C.D. Countries
Compares economic, command-and-control, information and advisory agri-environmental measures and policies in O.E.C.D. European and Asian countries and the U.S. (Legg)
Chapter III-5: US Environmental Programs and Their Compatability with Green Box Provisions
Examines the compatibility of U.S. agri-environmental programs and payments with Green Box criteria and suggests legislative crafting to ensure conformity. (Blandford, Josling & Arha)
Chapter III-6: Coordinated State and Federal Farm Ag Conservation Efforts
Assesses private land initiatives administered in Missouri and Nebraska, analyzes synergies between state and federal farm conservation programs, and suggests policy actions to encourage cooperative federalism in federal ag-conservation programs. (Arha, Riley & White)
Chapter III-7: Conserving Ecosystem Services Across Agrarian Landscapes
(Arha, Josling, Sumner & Thompson)