Caught in election-year red tape, the farm bill has stalled until after the November elections.

Sept. 30, 2012

Date the 2008 farm bill ended.

Jan. 1, 2013

Date that dairy policy will revert to permanent law if a farm bill is not extended or passed. Grain and other commodities revert once the 2013 crop is ready for planting.

2.15%

of U.S. government spending is currently on agriculture, of which 1.62% is for nutrition, 0.19% for crop insurance, 0.15% for conservation, 0.15% for commodity programs and 0.04% for other programs.

1933

First farm bill is passed. The government entered into farm policy as a way to stabilize farm prices to secure food supplies.

1949

The Agriculture Act of 1949 passed, the "permanent law" for agriculture. Each farm bill passed since has suspended permanent law.

16

farm bills have been passed in U.S. history.

Source: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Elizabeth Bechdol, Ice Miller LLP

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