Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
Latest action (22 May 2008): Became Public Law No: 110-234.
What this bill does
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, now enacted, establishes commodity programs, conservation initiatives, trade support, nutrition assistance, rural development, and agricultural research funding. It sets payment rates and target prices for various crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans through 2012. The Act also introduces programs like the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) as an alternative to traditional payments and requires producers to meet conservation compliance for program benefits.
This legislation directly affects farmers by outlining subsidy payments based on crop type, acreage, and market prices, and by providing incentives for conservation practices. It also impacts consumers through provisions related to nutrition assistance programs like food stamps and school meals, and supports rural communities through initiatives for water infrastructure, broadband access, and business development. The Act is now law, having passed Congress over a presidential veto.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 - Title I: Commodity Programs - (Sec. 1001) Defines specified terms.
Subtitle A: Direct Payments and Counter-Cyclical Payments - (Sec. 1101) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to adjust base acres for covered commodities for a farm whenever: (1) a conservation reserve contract expires or is voluntarily terminated; (2) cropland is released from coverage under a conservation reserve contract; or (3) the producer has eligible pulse crop or oilseed acreage.
Requires election of either direct payments and counter-cyclical payments or conservation payments if the base adjustment is made due to a change in status of a conservation reserve contract.
Requires a reduction in base acres if the sum of base acres and other specified acreage exceeds the actual cropland acreage on the farm.
Allows an owner to permanently reduce farm base acres at any time.
Prohibits a producer from receiving direct payments, counter-cyclical payments, or average crop revenue election payments if a farm's base acreage is 10 acres or less unless the farm is owned by a socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmer or rancher.
(Sec. 1102) Provides for the establishment of a payment yield for any designated oilseed or eligible pulse crop for direct payment and counter-cyclical payment purposes.
(Sec. 1103) Establishes 2008-2012 payment rates as follows: (1) wheat, $0.52 per bushel; (2) corn, $0.28 per bushel; (3) grain sorghum, $0.35 per bushel; (4) barley, $0.24 per bushel; (5) oats, $0.024 per bushel; (6) upland cotton, $0.0667 per pound; (7) long grain rice, $2.35 per hundredweight; (8) medium grain rice, $2.35 per hundredweight; (9) soybeans, $0.44 per bushel; and (10) other oilseeds, $0.80 per hundredweight.
Timeline
22 May 2008
Became Public Law No: 110-234.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 2419 do?
- The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, now enacted, establishes commodity programs, conservation initiatives, trade support, nutrition assistance, rural development, and agricultural research funding. It sets payment rates and target prices for various crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans through 2012. The Act also introduces programs like the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) as an alternative to traditional payments and requires producers to meet conservation compliance for program benefits. This legislation directly affects farmers by outlining subsidy payments based on crop type, acreage, and market prices, and by providing incentives for conservation practices. It also impacts consumers through provisions related to nutrition assistance programs like food stamps and school meals, and supports rural communities through initiatives for water infrastructure, broadband access, and business development. The Act is now law, having passed Congress over a presidential veto.
- Has H.R. 2419 become law?
- Yes. H.R. 2419 has been enacted. Status last updated 22 May 2008.
- Who sponsored H.R. 2419?
- H.R. 2419 was sponsored by Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] (D-MN), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 2419?
- Became Public Law No: 110-234. (22 May 2008).
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