Louisiana USDA Rural Development: Farm Bill 2018 Implementation
By Dr. Carrie Castille, Louisiana Director, USDA Rural Development
USDA is working quickly and expeditiously to implement the 2018 Farm Bill, which will govern farm policy for the next five years.
Dr. Carrie Castille
The Department has established a Farm Bill implementation team that includes a representative from each Rural Development program area. The team will identify regulatory changes that are required to implement the Farm Bill’s provisions. Regulatory changes take time to process and put into place and won’t happen overnight.
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, was signed on Dec. 20, 2018. The bill maintains a strong safety net for the farm economy, invests in critical agricultural research and promotes agriculture exports.
The bill increases to 50,000 the population limit for eligibility for USDA’s guaranteed water, community facilities, and broadband programs. A Local Agriculture Market Program will be created that brings together the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program and the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs. This program will receive $50 million in mandatory funds annually, and Rural Development will continue to administer the VAPG program.
A Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development will be established as the successor to the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. This Council will coordinate federal efforts to maximize investments in rural areas and promote economic prosperity.
An interagency task force on rural water quality will also be created. Improving water will directly benefit our farmers with access to water and sewage service that workers and farming communities need.
The Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program will be expanded to allow the use of grants. It also authorizes Congress to appropriate an additional $350 million to the program and gives the Rural Broadband Integration Working Group the authority to identify steps federal agencies can take to facilitate broadband buildout. Broadband access to those who live in underserved areas without residential service of at least 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download/1 Mbps upload will be prioritized. Technical assistance for broadband applications will be available and the application process will be simplified.
Rural Development’s renewable energy programs will be reauthorized and provides more than $125 million in mandatory funding and the Biobased Markets Program will be transferred to Rural Development.
These are a few highlights from the farm bill and reaffirms my commitment to keep you updated and informed with the opportunities that can assist you with your operations. I look forward to hearing from you and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure our agricultural producers achieve rural prosperity. Agriculture is a key component in ensuring the success of rural America. To let us know how we can best serve your needs, please contact me at carrie.castille@la.usda.gov or (318) 473-7921.