Order Code RL34154
Possible Expiration of the 2002 Farm Bill
August 31, 2007
Jasper Womach
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division

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Possible Expiration of the 2002 Farm Bill
Summary
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171, the 2002
farm bill) authorizes an array of farm commodity support, conservation, and nutrition
programs, many of which expire this year.
Since farm commodity support provisions of the 2002 farm bill expire with the
2007 crop, participating farmers will continue to receive payments on their 2007 crop
beyond the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2007). Hence, Congress does not
necessarily need to complete action on commodities by September 30. Lack of new
commodity support provisions before harvest in 2008 does little harm other than to
leave farmers uncertain about the size of payments they might receive. If Congress
deems a temporary extension necessary for the commodity support programs beyond
the 2007 crop year, that action likely could wait until near the 2008 harvest.
However, if a new farm bill is not enacted in time for the 2008 harvest, permanent
law will take effect. Under permanent law, eligible commodities would be supported
at levels much higher than they are now, but many of the currently supported
commodities would not be eligible (including rice, soybeans, and peanuts).
However, permanent law is so radically different from current policy and inconsistent
with today’s farming, marketing, and trade practices, as well as costly to the federal
government, that Congress is unlikely to let it take effect.
Most of the traditional USDA conservation programs are permanently
authorized and receive annual appropriations. Other conservation programs that pay
farmers to remove fragile cropland from production are authorized and receive
mandatory funding from the 2002 farm bill, and this program authority expires on
September 30, 2007. Without reauthorization, programs such as the Conservation
Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program would not be able to enroll new
acreage, but would continue to make payments on land already under contract. Two
other conservation programs that pay farmers for adopting resource stewardship
practices (the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation
Security Program) were extended beyond FY2007 by the Deficit Reduction Act of
2005.
For the domestic food and nutrition programs administered by USDA, most of
the larger programs (e.g., the regular food stamp program, child nutrition programs,
and the WIC program) are permanently authorized and would not be affected by the
possible expiration of the 2002 farm bill. On the other hand, operation of the Senior
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), along with a number of special
authorities and requirements incorporated in the Food Stamp Act and the law
governing the Commodity Supplemental Feeding Program (CSFP), would be affected
unless additional action is taken.

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Contents
Commodity Support Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Conservation Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Nutrition Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Historical Farm Bill Chronology of Major Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1973 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1977 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1981 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1985 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1990 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
1996 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2002 Farm Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
List of Tables
Table 1. Average Prices Received and Parity Prices for Farm Products, and
Support Provisions Under Permanent Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table 2. Conservation Program Authorization and Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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Possible Expiration of the 2002 Farm Bill
What might happen if Congress does not enact a new farm bill before
September 30, 2007 — the end of this fiscal year and the commonly reported
expiration date of the 2002 farm bill? Would programs authorized by this expiring
legislation cease to operate, or would they continue under nonexpiring provisions of
permanent law? Where there is permanent law, would the design and funding
change?
The 2002 omnibus farm bill (P.L. 107-171) includes a wide range of program
authorities, some of which are mandatory and others are discretionary. Mandatory,
in this context, means that the authority to spend necessary funds is provided by
statute.1 This category includes the commodity support programs, export programs,
some conservation programs, and food stamps.2 Discretionary programs are
authorized, but annual funding is subject to congressionally approved appropriations.
Discretionary programs in the farm bill include some conservation programs, federal
farm loan programs, rural development programs, agricultural research, and foreign
food aid, among others.
In nearly all cases, a farm bill supersedes permanent authorizing law for a period
of four to six years. The farm bill is important because it may substantially change
program design from what is in the permanent law, as is the case with commodity
support programs. Typically, with regard to appropriated programs, the farm bill sets
upper limits on program activity levels and appropriations authority.
Most appropriated programs (also referred to as discretionary programs) in the
2002 farm bill and some mandatory programs, such as food stamps, would face the
prospect of not having statutory authority for the appropriations committees to
provide funding in FY2008 and subsequent years. The lack of authority to
appropriate funds for authorized programs (and even for some programs not
authorized) has not been a barrier for appropriations in past Congresses.
Commodity Support Programs3
The mandatory commodity support programs authorized in the 2002 farm bill
cover the 2007 crops. So, all subsidy obligations related to calendar year 2007
1 In this context the word mandatory does not relate to participation in the programs. In all
cases, program participation is voluntary.
2 Crop insurance is an important farm program, with mandatory funding, that does not
depend on periodic renewal through farm bills because it is authorized by its own permanent
law.
3 This section on commodity support programs was prepared with assistance from Jennifer
Staman, Legal Analyst, CRS.

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CRS-2
production are covered by the law. Using past farm bills as a guide, few have been
enacted before the end of the fiscal year. The 1981 and 1985 farm bills were enacted
in late December, and the 1990 farm bill was enacted in late November. Enactment
of the anticipated 1995 farm bill in April 1996 is the most extreme case of belated
action. The 1990 farm bill expired in 1995, but the subsequent replacement
legislation was not signed into law until April 4, 1996, yet payments were made on
the 1995 crops and farmers went ahead with planting operations for their 1996 crops.
Absence of a new farm bill poses some risk for crops harvested in 2008,
particularly winter wheat that is harvested in early summer, but typically harvest
comes late in the calendar year for most subsidized crops. Since the 1996 farm bill,
farmers have had substantial planting flexibility and acreage reduction requirements
have been eliminated. Absent reversion to supply controls, enactment of a new farm
bill as late as the spring of 2008 would inconvenience few farmers. Lack of new
commodity support legislation before harvest in 2008 does little harm other than to
leave farmers uncertain about the size of payments they might receive. One
exception might be some farmers’ ability to acquire production loans from
commercial lenders if there is great uncertainty about future programs. If Congress
deems a temporary extension necessary for the commodity support programs beyond
the 2007 crop year, that action likely could wait until near the 2008 harvest.4
If Congress takes no action on commodity support before the beginning of the
2008 harvest, then the nonexpiring provisions of primarily the Agriculture
Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agriculture Act of 1949 take effect. Provisions of
these permanent laws are temporarily superseded by each farm bill. So, absent any
amendments before the 2008 harvest, the permanent authority will apply. However,
the commodity support provisions of the permanent law are so radically different
from current policy and inconsistent with today’s farming, marketing, and trade
practices, as well as costly to the federal government, that Congress is unlikely to let
permanent law take effect.
Permanent law provides mandatory support for basic crops through nonrecourse
loans, but without the option of settling the loan obligations at posted county prices
or receiving loan deficiency payments. The only settlement options would be
forfeiture of the commodities used as loan collateral or full repayment of the loans.
Permanent law does not authorize counter-cyclical payments or decoupled direct
payments. Also, nonrecourse loan rates could be as high as 90% of parity but not less
than 50% of parity for wheat, 65% of parity for cotton, and 50% of parity for corn.5
Acreage allotments and marketing quotas could be implemented for wheat and
4 Milk is a special situation because marketing year begins on January 1. However, the
effect of permanent law would impact federal costs more than milking operations.
5 Parity is a formula that gives a unit of the commodity the same purchasing power it had in
the 1910-1914 time period. For example, the June 2007 average farm price for wheat was
reported by USDA at $5.37/bu. (49% of its $10.90 parity price). Similarly, the average farm
price for upland cotton of $0.468/lb. was 23% of parity; and the average farm price for
manufacturing grade milk of $20.70/cwt. (a record high) was 55% of parity. (Prices
received by farmers and parity prices are reported monthly by the USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service report, Agricultural Prices.)

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cotton. Milk support would be between 75% and 90% of parity. Support for rice,
soybeans and other oilseeds, and peanuts would not be mandatory. Other
commodities now receiving mandatory support but not identified in permanent law
are: sugar beets, sugar cane, honey, wool, mohair, small chickpeas, dry peas, and
lentils.
For wheat and cotton, permanent law requires the Secretary of Agriculture to
announce acreage allotments and marketing quotas during the prior crop year, and to
hold producer referenda on whether to implement marketing quotas. A two-thirds
or more affirmative producer vote for marketing quotas results in the highest levels
of support, but also in mandatory restrictions on planted acreage and therefore on the
quantity eligible for support. For purposes of this analysis, it is assumed the
Secretary does not have time to announce marketing quotas and to conduct the
producer referenda. Therefore, the only option would be to announce acreage
allotments without marketing quotas prior to the 2008 harvest. The milk marketing
year begins January 1, so support at 75% of parity would begin at that time in the
absence of new legislation. Table 1 summarizes the support estimates based on
these assumptions.
Table 1. Average Prices Received and Parity Prices for Farm
Products, and Support Provisions Under Permanent Law
Commodity
Farm
Parity
Farm Price Minimum Support Provisions Under
Minimum
and Unit
Market
Price, Jul
as % of
Permanent Law (Agricultural Adjustment
Loan /
Price, Jul
2007 b/
Parity, Jul Act of 1938 and Agricultural Act of 1949) c/
Purchase Price
2007 a/
2007
Under
Permanent
Law
Basic Commodities
Wheat, Bu
$5.37
$10.90
49%
Nonrecourse loans and direct purchases.
75% parity =
Acreage allotments.
$8.18
Quotas approved, loan rate = 65-90% parity.
Quotas not approved, loan rate = 50% parity.
Quotas not announced, loan rate = 75-90% of
parity.
Rice, Cwt
$9.84
$29.50
33%
Permanent authority repealed by P.L. 104-127
none
(Agriculture and Food Act of 1981), Sec 601.
Corn, Bu
$3.23
$8.09
40%
Nonrecourse loans and direct purchases.
50% parity =
Acreage allotments are not authorized.
$4.05
Loan rate = 50-90% of parity.
Sorghum, Bu
$3.11
$7.73
40%
Support set in relation to feed value (TDN)
$3.84
compared to corn (sorghum =95%, barley=90%,
Barley, Bu
$3.37
$7.63
44%
$3.12
oats=90%)
Oats, Bu
$1.87
$4.53
41%
$2.08

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Commodity
Farm
Parity
Farm Price Minimum Support Provisions Under
Minimum
and Unit
Market
Price, Jul
as % of
Permanent Law (Agricultural Adjustment
Loan /
Price, Jul
2007 b/
Parity, Jul Act of 1938 and Agricultural Act of 1949) c/
Purchase Price
2007 a/
2007
Under
Permanent
Law
Cotton, Upland,
$0.468
$2.06
23%
Nonrecourse loans and direct purchases.
$1.34
Lb
Acreage allotments.
Quotas approve, loan rate = 65-90% parity.
Quotas not approved, loan rate = 50% parity
Quotas not announced, loan rate = 65-90%
parity.
Peanuts, Lb
$0.183
$0.65
28%
Permanent authority repealed by P.L. 107-171
none
(Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996), Title I, Subtitle C.
Designated Nonbasic Commodities
Milk, Mfg, Cwt
$20.70
$37.30
55%
Purchases of milk and butterfat products at 75-
75% parity =
90% of parity.
$30.38
Honey, Lb 3/
$1.04
$2.59
40%
Permanent authority repealed by P.L. 104-127
none
(Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996).
Wool, Lb
$0.68
$1.73
39%
Permanent authority repealed by P.L. 103-130.
none
Mohair, Lb
$2.78
$7.56
37%
Permanent authority repealed by P.L. 103-130.
none
Other Nonbasic Commodities
Sugar, Refined
Tariff rate quotas continue under authority of the
none
Beet
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
Sugar, Raw
States, Headnote 2.
none
Cane
Soybeans, Bu
$7.92
$17.90
44%
none
Sunflower Seed,
$17.40
$35.00
50%
none
Cwt
Rapeseed, Cwt
$11.90
$33.50
36%
none
Canola, Cwt
$11.10
$28.90
38%
Permanent law includes no mandatory support
none
for these other nonbasic commodities. However,
Safflower, Cwt
$13.50
$38.80
35%
none
Sec. 301 of the Agricultural Act of 1949, and in
Flaxseed, Bu
$8.00
$17.70
45%
the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act
none
give discretionary authority to the Secretary of
Mustard Seed,
$13.00
$40.50
32%
Agriculture to “make available through loans,
none
Cwt
purchases, or other operations price support to
Crambe
na
na
na
producers for any nonbasic agricultural
none
commodity ... [not otherwise designated for
Sesame Seed
na
na
na
none
mandatory support]....”
Chickpeas,
$19.40
na
na
none
Small, Cwt
Peas, Dry, Cwt
$9.26
na
na
none
Lentils, Cwt
$14.40
na
na
none

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a. Average July 2007 price received by farmers as reported by USDA, NASS. July prices not
available for all commodities so marketing year average prices are used for oats, honey, rapeseed,
canola, safflower, and mustard seed; the May 2007 price is used for chickpeas.
b. Reported by USDA, NASS, Agricultural Prices, July 2007. Parity prices are computed under the
provisions of Title III, Subtitle a, Section 301 (a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 as
amended by the Agricultural Acts of 1948, 1949, and 1956.
c. An explanation of permanent law is provided by USDA, ERS, Possible Economic Consequences
of Reverting to Permanent Legislation or Eliminating Price and Income Support, AER 526, January
1985. For purposes of this table it is assumed permanent law is implemented without time to hold
producer referenda on national quotas and so mandatory support would be implemented without
marketing quotas.
Conservation Programs6
Many of the USDA conservation programs administered by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) deal with evaluating the causes and severity
of resource problems, developing physical and management systems to address the
problems, and providing technical and financial assistance to farmers implementing
preventive and remedial practices. The cost of these programs largely relates to
agency personnel with specialized technical training, cost-sharing with farmers, and
administrative overhead. Most of these programs are permanently authorized and the
appropriations committees are instructed to provide such sums as necessary to meet
program needs. Thus, there is no constraint on appropriators in future years. As with
most appropriated (discretionary) programs, funding depends heavily on budget
requests from the administering executive agency. So, the future of these programs,
short of a change in the permanent authorizing law, largely is in the hands of the
appropriators. The programs are listed in Table 2.
The Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198), and subsequent amendments, has
become the legal foundation for another set of programs that now account for almost
80% of USDA conservation spending and dramatically changed the use of a sizable
share of the nation’s cropland. Most of these programs are administered by NRCS
while the largest (the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)) is administered by FSA
with support from NRCS. The original authorizing legislation expired in 1990 and
subsequently has been extended by periodic farm bills. These programs were last
extended by the 2002 farm bill and most will expire September 30, 2007 (see Table
2).
Programs like the Conservation Reserve (CRP) and Wetlands Reserve (WRP)
will expire at the end of FY2007. This likely would mean that no new contracts
could be signed with farmers. However, all existing contracts would stay in force for
their specified life and payments would continue to be made on the existing
contracts.
6 This section on conservation programs was prepared with assistance from Jeff Zinn,
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy, CRS.

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CRS-6
Table 2. Conservation Program Authorization and Funding
Permanently Authorized and Funded with Annual Appropriations a/
Expiration of
Program
Appropriations
Authority
Conservation Technical Assistance
No Expiration Date
Soil Surveys
5
Watershed Planning and Surveys
5
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
5
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
5
Agricultural Management Assistance Program
5
Emergency Watershed Program
5
Emergency Conservation Program
5
Expiring Programs with Mandatory Funding b/
Expiration of Program
Program
Authority
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Sept. 30, 2007
Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
5
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
5
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
5
Ground and Surface Water Program
5
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
5
Watershed Rehabilitation Program
5
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Sept. 30, 2010 c/
Conservation Security Program (CSP)
Sept. 30, 2011 c/
a. With the exception of the Agricultural Management Assistance Program, with mandatory funding
at $10 million annually after FY2007 (a reduction from $20 million per year for FY2003 through
FY2007), these programs all are authorized to indefinitely receive appropriations of such sums as
necessary.
b. With one exception, these programs were initially authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985
(P.L. 99-198), or amendments to that act. The Watershed Rehabilitation program was initially
authorized by amendment to the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (P.L. 106-472). All
of these programs were extended through FY2007 by the 2002 farm bill.
c. Subsequent to the 2002 farm bill, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) authorized the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through FY2010, and also, the Conservation
Security Program (CSP) through FY2011.

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Nutrition Programs7
If farm bill enactment is delayed, programs covered by the nutrition title present
a set of issues that differ from those posed by program by the other titles. The regular
Food Stamp program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
(FDPIR), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and fresh fruit and
vegetable projects are authorized in permanent law. These programs would continue,
largely unchanged, as long as appropriations are provided.
On the other hand, operation of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
(SFMNP), along with a number of special authorities and requirements incorporated
in the Food Stamp Act and the law governing the CSFP, would be affected unless
additional action is taken. The most important effects would be:
(1) mandatory funding from permanent appropriations ($15 million) for the
SFMNP would end;
(2) the directive to use food stamp appropriations to purchase commodities
($140 million) “guaranteed” for The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP) would terminate;
(3) the directive to fund nutrition assistance block grants (in lieu of food
stamps) for Puerto Rico and American Samoa would lapse ($1.6 billion);
(4) the requirement to reserve a portion of food stamp appropriations for
employment/training programs ($110 million) would end;
(5) the authority to reduce (by $200 million) food stamp administrative
cost payments to states would terminate; and
(6) the requirement for minimum per-case administrative cost payments
under the CSFP would expire.
Both the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC), the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition program, and child nutrition
programs (e.g., school lunch and breakfast programs) are reauthorized separately
from the farm bill. Thus, their design and funding would not be affected by a delay
in enacting a 2007 farm bill.
7 This section on nutrition programs was prepared with assistance from Joe Richardson,
Specialist in Domestic Social Policy, CRS.

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Historical Farm Bill Chronology of Major Actions
1973 Farm Bill. P.L. 93-86 (S. 1888), an original bill to extend and amend the
Agricultural Act of 1970 for the purpose of assuring consumers of plentiful supplies of food
and fiber at reasonable prices
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced May 23, 1973.
Enacted August 10, 1973.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire June 30, 1977.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 1977 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
05/23/1973 — S. 1888 introduced in Senate
05/23/1973 — S. 1888 reported to Senate, S.Rept. 93-173.
06/08/1973 — S. 1888 passed by roll call vote (78-9).
06/20/1973 — H.R. 8860 introduced in House
06/27/1973 — H.R. 8860 reported to House, H.Rept. 93-337.
07/19/1973 — H.R. 8860 laid on table in House, S. 1888 passed in lieu.
08/10/1973 — Signed by President.
1977 Farm Bill. — P.L. 95-113 (S. 275), Food and Agriculture Act of 1977
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced January 18, 1977.
Enacted September 29, 1977.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire September 30, 1981.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 1981 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
01/18/1977 — S. 275 introduced in Senate.
05/13/1977 — H.R. 7171 introduced in House.
05/16/1977 — Reported to Senate, S.Rept. 95-180.
05/16/1977 — H.R. 7171 reported from the House Ag. Committee, H.Rept. 95-348.
05/24/1977 — Passed Senate by roll call, 69-18.
07/28/1977 — Passed House in lieu of H.R. 7171 by roll call, 294-114.
09/09/1977 — Conference report S.Rept. 95-418 agreed to 9/12/1977 by roll call, 63-8.
09/16/1977 — Conference report agreed to in House by roll call, 283-107.
09/29/1977 — Signed by President.

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1981 Farm Bill. P.L. 97-98 (S. 884), Agriculture and Food Act of 1981
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced April 7, 1981.
Enacted December 22, 1981.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire September 30, 1985.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 1985 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
04/07/1981 — S. 884 introduced in Senate.
05/18/1981 — H.R. 3603 introduced in House.
05/19/1981 — Reported by House Ag. Committee, H.Rept. 97-106, Part I. Reported by
House Committee on Appropriations 6/11/1981, H.Rept. 97-106, Part II. Reported by
House Committee on Ways and Means on 6/19/1981, H.Rept. 97-106, Part III.
Discharged by House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs on
6/19/1981.
05/27/1981 — S. 884 reported by Senate Ag. Committee under the authority of the order of
May 21, 1981, with written report S.Rept. 97-126.
09/18/1981 — Passed Senate by yeas-nays, 49-32.
10/22/1981 — Passed House by yeas-nays, 192-160.
12/09/1981 — Conference Report H.Rept. 97-377 filed in House.
12/10/1981 — Conference report agreed to in Senate by yeas-nays, 67-32.
12/10/1981 — Conference report S.Rept. 97-290 filed in Senate on the disagreeing votes of
the two Houses on the amendments of the House.
12/16/1981 — Conference report agreed to in House by yeas-nays, 205-203.
12/22/1981 — Signed by President.
1985 Farm Bill. P.L. 99-98 (H.R. 2854), Food Security Act of 1985
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced April 17, 1985.
Enacted December 23, 1985.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire September 30, 1990.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 1990 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
04/17/1985 — H.R. 2854 introduced in House.
09/13/1985 — Reported to House by House Ag. Committee, H.Rept. 99-271, Part I; and
reported to House by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries on
9/19/1985, H.Rept. 99-271, Part II.
09/19/1985 — Senate Ag. Committee incorporated provisions of related measures S. 501,
S. 616, S. 843, S. 908, S. 1036, S. 1041, S. 1051, S. 1083, S. 1119, S. 42, S. 171, S.
1040, S. 1049, S. 1050, S. 250, S. 1069 into a single measure that was ordered to be
reported.
09/30/1985 — S. 1714 introduced in Senate and reported to Senate with written report
S.Rept. 99-145.
10/08/1985 — H.R. 2854 passed House by yeas-nays, 282-141.
11/23/1985 — H.R. 2854 passed Senate in lieu of S. 1714 by yeas-nays, 61-28.

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12/17/1985 — Conference Report H.Rept. 99-447 filed in House and agreed to in House on
12/18/1985 by yeas-nays, 325-96; and agreed to in Senate by yeas-nays, 55-38.
12/23/1985 — Signed by President.
1990 Farm Bill. P.L. 101-624 (S. 2830), Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced July 6, 1990.
Enacted November 28, 1990.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire September 30, 1995.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 1995 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
02/05/1990 — H.R. 3950 introduced in House.
7/3/1990 — H.R. 3950 reported by the House Ag. Committee with H.Rept. 101-569, Part
I. Reported 7/16/1990 by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, H.Rept. 101-569, Part
II. Supplemental report filed 7/17/1990 by the House Ag. Committee, H.Rept.
101-569, Part III. Reported 7/18/1990 by the Committee on Education and Labor,
H.Rept. 101-569, Part IV. Reported 7/18/1990 by the Committee on Ways and Means,
H.Rept. 101-569, Part V, filed late, pursuant to previous special order. Discharged
7/18/1990 by the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
07/06/1990 — S. 2830 introduced in Senate.
07/06/1990 — S. 2830 reported to Senate under the authority of the order of June 26, 1990,
with written report S.Rept. 101-357.
07/27/1990 — S. 2830 passed Senate by yeas-nays, 70-21.
8/1/1990 — H.R. 3950 passed House by recorded vote, 327-91.
08/04/1990 — S. 2830 passed in House without objection.
10/22/1990 — Conference report H.Rept. 101-916 filed.
10/23/1990 — Conference report agreed to in House by yeas-nays, 318-102.
10/25/1990 — Conference report agreed to in Senate by yeas-nays, 60-36.
11/28/1990 — Signed by President.

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1996 Farm Bill. P.L.104-127 (H.R. 2854), Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced January 5, 1996.
Enacted April 4, 1996.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expires September 30, 2002.
! Commodity support authority expires after the 2002 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
01/05/1996 — H.R. 2854 introduced in House.
01/26/1996 — S. 1541 introduced in Senate.
02/07/1996 — S. 1541 passed Senate by yeas-nays, 64-32.
02/09/1996 — H.R. 2854 reported by House Ag. Committee with H.Rept. 104-462, Part I,
and discharged on 2/9/1996 by Committee on Ways and Means.
02/29/1996 — H.R. 2854 passed House by yeas-nays, 270-155.
03/12/1996 — H.R. 2854 passed Senate by voice vote.
03/25/1996 — Conference report H.Rept. 104-494 filed.
03/28/1996 — Conference report agreed to in Senate by yeas-nays, 74-26.
03/29/1996 — Conference report agreed to in House by recorded vote, 318-89.
04/04/1996 — Signed by President.
2002 Farm Bill. P.L. 107-171 (H.R. 2646), Farm Security and Rural Investment Act
of 2002
Summary of Major Actions
Introduced July 26, 2001.
Enacted May 13, 2002.
Expiration:
! Appropriations authorities expire September 30, 2007.
! Commodity support authorities expire after the 2007 crop year.
Chronology of Major Actions
07/26/2001 — H.R. 2646 introduced in House.
08/02/2001 — H.R. 2646 reported by House Ag. Committee, H.Rept. 107-191, Part I.
Supplemental report filed 8/31/2001 by House Ag. Committee, H.Rept. 107-191, Part
II. Reported by the Committee on International Relations 9/10/2001, H.Rept. 107-191,
Part III.
10/05/2001 — Passed in House by yeas-nays, 291-120.
11/27/2001 — S. 1731 introduced in Senate and reported to Senate by the Senate Ag.
Committee without a written report. S.Rept. 107-117 was filed on 12/7/2001.
02/13/2002 — Passed in Senate in lieu of S. 1731 by yeas-nays, 58-40.
05/01/2002 — Conference report H.Rept. 107-424 filed.
05/02/2002 — Conference report agreed to in House by yeas-nays, 280-141.
05/08/2002 — Conference report agreed to in Senate by yeas-nays, 64-35.
05/13/2002 — Signed by President.

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