REFRESH Act of 2011
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (5 Oct 2011): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
What this bill does
The REFRESH Act of 2011, introduced in the Senate in October 2011, proposes significant changes to U.S. agricultural policy. It would replace existing direct and counter-cyclical payment programs with an Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management (ARRM) program for covered commodities and peanuts from 2013 to 2017. The bill also aims to reform federal crop insurance by authorizing the Commodity Credit Corporation to offer supplemental coverage based on area yields and losses, and requiring a whole farm insurance plan based on gross revenue.
This legislation would affect farmers and ranchers by altering how they receive payments and manage risk. It would also impact the sugar industry by repealing the sugar loan program and eliminating tariffs on certain sugar products. The dairy sector would see the establishment of new margin protection and market stabilization programs, alongside the elimination of existing price support and income loss contract programs. Additionally, the bill proposes changes to conservation programs, including the conservation reserve and a new working land program, and revises aspects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As of its introduction, S. 1658 was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Further action would require the committee to consider the bill, potentially leading to amendments and a vote. If passed by the Senate, it would then move to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Rural Economic Farm and Ranch Sustainability and Hunger Act of 2011 or the REFRESH Act of 2011 - Amends the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), regarding all covered commodities and peanuts during each of the 2013-2017 crop years, to give the operator, tenant, or sharecropper on a farm an opportunity to make an annual election to receive aggregate risk and revenue management (ARRM) payments for the crop year for which the election is made. (Replaces the average crop revenue election program with the ARRM program.)
Repeals the direct and counter-cyclical payment programs for covered commodities and peanuts beginning with the 2013 crop year.
Suspends permanent price support authority through December 31, 2017.
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to: (1) authorize the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to offer supplemental coverage based on an area yield and loss basis to cover that portion of a crop loss not covered under the producer's individual yield and loss basis insurance plan, (2) require CCC to offer a whole farm insurance plan that allows a producer to qualify for an indemnity if actual gross farm revenue is below 80% of the producer's average gross farm revenue, and (3) extend and expand the adjusted gross revenue insurance pilot program.
Amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to repeal the sugar loan program.
Eliminates tariffs on: (1) raw sugar cane, (2) beet sugar, and (3) certain refined sugar.
Establishes through December 31, 2017: (1) a dairy producer margin protection program, and (2) a dairy market stabilization program.
Revises milk marketing order provisions.
Timeline
5 Oct 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Common questions
- What does S. 1658 do?
- The REFRESH Act of 2011, introduced in the Senate in October 2011, proposes significant changes to U.S. agricultural policy. It would replace existing direct and counter-cyclical payment programs with an Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management (ARRM) program for covered commodities and peanuts from 2013 to 2017. The bill also aims to reform federal crop insurance by authorizing the Commodity Credit Corporation to offer supplemental coverage based on area yields and losses, and requiring a whole farm insurance plan based on gross revenue. This legislation would affect farmers and ranchers by altering how they receive payments and manage risk. It would also impact the sugar industry by repealing the sugar loan program and eliminating tariffs on certain sugar products. The dairy sector would see the establishment of new margin protection and market stabilization programs, alongside the elimination of existing price support and income loss contract programs. Additionally, the bill proposes changes to conservation programs, including the conservation reserve and a new working land program, and revises aspects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As of its introduction, S. 1658 was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Further action would require the committee to consider the bill, potentially leading to amendments and a vote. If passed by the Senate, it would then move to the House of Representatives for consideration.
- Has S. 1658 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1658. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1658?
- S. 1658 was sponsored by Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN] (R-IN), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1658?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (5 Oct 2011).
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