2008 FARM BILL SIDE-BY-SIDE The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which governs Federal farm programs for 2008-12, was enacted into law in July 2008. ERS’ side-by-side comparison of this new Farm Act with previous legislation is now available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/FarmBill/2008/. Summarized but substantive, this comparison is a time-saving reference on farm bill provisions. In addition to key provisions and details by Title, the side-by-side includes links to related ERS publications and to analyses of previous farm acts. New features include a user's guide, an A-Z list of major provisions, and a search function. Released Friday, August 22, 2008You may browse or search by topic. You'll get a table with the provisions under the previous Farm Bill, and then the provisions under the current farm bill. Below are some examples. (A search for the National Agricultural Library did not yield anything!)Examples:Grants to Reduce Methamphetamine ProductionPrevious Legislation No similar provision.2008 Farm Bill Establishes agricultural producers, cooperatives, and chemical retailers as eligible for $40-$60 grants to install locks on anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks or to add a substance that reduces methamphetamine production efficacy.Pollinator ResearchPrevious Legislation No similar provision.2008 Farm Bill Authorizes annual appropriations of $10 million in research and extension grants for honey bees and other pollinators for FY 2008-12. Activities supported include:
data collection on bee colony production and health, and investigation of pollinator biology
research on factors that contribute to colony collapse disorder, including parasites and pathogens
development of mitigative and preventive measures for pollinator health
habitat conservation and best management practices
Authorizes annual appropriations of $7.25 million for FY 2008-12 for capacity and infrastructure spending to hire personnel and conduct research on pollinator issues at USDA facilities, subject to appropriations.
Authorizes annual appropriations of $2.75 million for honey bee pest and pathogen surveillance in FY 2008-12.
Requires Secretary to submit annual report to Congress on colony collapse disorder describing progress on research and strategies for reducing colony loss. Strategies include efforts supported under the Conservation Title in this Act. (See Title II, Encouragement of Pollinator Habitat Development and Protection.)
Bioenergy ResearchPrevious Legislation Sun Grant Research Initiative Act of 2003 established Research, Extension, and Educational Programs on Biobased Energy Technologies and Products. No funds were appropriated in FY 2004 and FY 2006. However, legislation authorized appropriations of $25 million in FY 2005, $50 million in FY 2006, and $75 million annually in FY 2007-10. 2008 Farm Bill Revises Sun Grant Research Initiative; authorizes grants to 5 regionally based Sun Grant Centers and 1 subcenter intended to:
develop, distribute, and implement biobased technologies
promote diversification and environmental sustainability through biobased energy and product technologies
promote diversification of rural areas through biobased energy
enhance efficiency of bioenergy and biomass research and development through collaborations among USDA, Department of Energy (DOE), and land grant universities
Directs centers to award 75% of funds to multi-institution and multistate research, extension, and education programs via competitive process:
30% of these funds to be used for technology development
30% of funds are for integrated programs for technology implementation
20% of project costs must be matched by non-Federal source, though this requirement can be waived
limits administrative overhead costs of centers to 4%, portion of which is used to coordinate plan for addressing bioenergy, biomass, and gasification priorities of USDA and DOE, and coordinated gasification research with land grant universities
remaining funds to be retained by centers to conduct research, extension, and education programs for technology development and implementation
Grant Information Analysis Center will support regional centers and produce annual report. Authorizes $75 million annually for FY 2008-12.