Farm Bill
The Agricultural Act of 2014 is important legislation that provides authorization for services and programs that impact every American and millions of people around the world. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer.
The Farm Bill allows USDA to continue record accomplishments on behalf of the American people, while providing new opportunity and creating jobs across rural America. It enables USDA to further expand markets for agricultural products at home and abroad, strengthen conservation efforts, create new opportunities for local and regional food systems and grow the biobased economy. It provides a dependable safety net for America's farmers, ranchers and growers. It maintains important agricultural research, and ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all Americans.
USDA Rural Development: Highlights of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (PDF)
Rural Area Definition for USDA Housing Programs
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) makes areas with population up to 35,000 and rural in character eligible for USDA Rural Housing Programs, with certain provisions. Changes to the eligible areas map based on the Farm Bill can be found on the USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site. Select “Single Family Housing” under the Property Eligibility menu.
Stakeholders are advised that additional changes to eligible rural areas for USDA Rural Housing Programs as outlined in H.R.933, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 and the 2010 Census took effect on October 1, 2014. . A preview of the “Future Eligible Areas” is available on the USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site..
Rural Development Farm Bill Fact Sheets
- Rural Development Programs Farm Bill Fact Sheet
- Local and Regional Food Systems
- Rural Development Programs Farm Bill - Espanol
- Energy Farm Bill Fact Sheet
- Energy Farm Bill Fact Sheet - Espanol
Listening Session Recordings
- USDA Listening Sessions - Bioeconomy (.wma ) 6MB
- USDA Listening Session - Rural Development Programs (.wma) 7MB
Contacts
- Rural Economic Development Contacts
- Energy Farm Bill Contacts
- Email General Comments to: RDFarmBillComments@wdc.usda.gov