Grow Montana’s Farm Bill Advocacy Toolkit

For nearly 20 years, Grow Montana has focused on advocating for food policy issues at the state legislature. For the first time in our history, the coalition is stepping into the National forum by providing advocacy and input on the US Farm Bill as it is set to be reauthorized for the next five years. We have developed this toolkit to help our network learn more about the Farm Bill and opportunities for action. 

Read on to learn more about what the Farm Bill is, why it is important and how you can get involved. Also included is our Grow Montana Farm Bill Policy Platform that outlines specific changes to the 2023 Farm Bill the coalition thinks will be an improvement for Montana’s local food system. 

We have also developed a sign-on letter to be delivered to Montana’s Congressional Delegates in early September. You can read the letter HERE and you can add your signature. Montana citizens and organizations are all welcome to sign-on.

Read Grow Montana’s Farm Bill Sign-On Letter

Many of the programs included in the Farm Bill impact the public, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), grant funding for farmers markets, and programs for soil health. The Farm Bill also provides subsidies to agricultural corporations and commodity farmers. With the passing of each new Farm Bill is an opportunity to expand important programs, and change policies so they better serve local food systems.

Congress passed the first Farm Bill in 1933 in response to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl to help reverse widespread hunger, low crop prices, lack of infrastructure in rural communities, and dangerous destruction of the soil. It included programs for environmental restoration, hunger relief, research, economic programs, and government purchased commodity crops. Some of these programs still exist today.

There are 5 stages in developing the new Farm Bill: Input, Writing, Passing, Funding, and Implementing. We are approaching the passing stage of the 2023 Farm Bill, and many groups have developed recommendations to include in the new legislation. Letting our state representatives know what is important to Montanans, even at this stage, is a vital step to forming the new Farm Bill for the next five years.

Grow Montana’s Farm Bill Platform

The Farm Bill dictates the funding for important programs like SNAP, TEFAP, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, DSD. People from all walks of life rely on these programs, including working parents, college students, and seniors.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Increase SNAP’s purchasing power by basing the program on the Low-Cost Food Plan to bring benefit amounts in line with the cost of purchasing an adequate, nutrient-dense diet
    • Improve SNAP access for college students, many of whom are unable to participate in SNAP despite meeting income qualifications, due to eligibility and enrollment barriers.
    • Strengthen efforts to support work by removing the 3-month time limit on SNAP benefits.
    • Ensure sovereignty for Native Communities.
    • End the Ban on SNAP for individuals with prior drug felony convictions.
    • Protect and enhance food choice in SNAP.
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
    • Reauthorize and increase to $500 million per year mandatory funding for TEFAP food purchases, adjusted for inflation.
    • Reauthorize and increase to $200 million per year discretionary funding for TEFAP storage and distribution.
    • Reauthorize $15 million per year in discretionary funding for TEFAP infrastructure grants.
    • Improve access to local food products through TEFAP, better supporting local food systems and small producers.
  • Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
    • Reauthorize and increase from $20.6 per year to $50 million per year mandatory funding for SFMNP food purchases.
    • Adequately fund and allow administrative and marketing costs to be included in the annual state plan up to 10% of the total award.
  • GusNIP Grant Program
    • Ensure that the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program is well funded and program design does not undermine the effectiveness of farmers markets and other farm direct sales.
    • Increase funding to $350 million and include a fourth tier/scale of projects for Statewide expansion/cooperative agreements and increase funding cap for Produce Prescription projects to $1 million for program expansion.
    • Decrease or eliminate the requirement to secure a 1:1 match from private sources for federal dollars.  Allow brick and mortar retailers to contribute to in-kind match.

Grow Montana Members to connect with on these issues: MFBN, CFAC, NCAT, L2H