IFAI Publishes Analysis of Senate Farm Bill

FAYETTEVILLE, AR –  Today, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) published a detailed, section-by-section analysis of the Senate Farm Bill’s impacts on Indian Country.  

The 902-page bill, which was released on June 23, includes over 90 provisions that could have significant impacts on Tribes and Tribal producers. Thirty provisions directly reference Tribes, advancing Tribal sovereignty and parity, supporting Tribally led conservation efforts, and supporting Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).  

While the House Farm Bill included many similar Tribal provisions, the Senate text includes new provisions aimed at addressing supply chain disruptions to the Food and Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). The Senate bill also establishes several new programs to support distressed water and wastewater systems in rural areas that are not included in the House bill. 

As noted in IFAI’s initial analysis, however, both Senate and House versions of the Farm Bill largely maintain the status quo, even cutting funding for popular but oversubscribed conservation programs. Both bills include important advances that will benefit Tribes and producers. Nevertheless, both may have limited impacts on the core challenges of accessing land, capital, and markets for Tribal producers and agribusinesses and on addressing hunger in Indian Country. 

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to markup its Farm Bill this month.