Bill Overview
Title: The Emergency Relief Program Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to carry out a program to make payments for losses of crops and livestock during calendar year 2022.
Sponsors: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Target Audience
Population: Farmers and ranchers affected by crop and livestock losses in 2022
Estimated Size: 600000
- The bill provides payments for losses of crops and livestock.
- It targets those impacted during calendar year 2022.
- Crops and livestock losses are primarily suffered by farmers and ranchers.
- These losses can occur due to natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or market disruptions.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is primarily farmers and ranchers who have experienced losses in crops and livestock during 2022. The number of participants is estimated at around 600,000 based on previous emergency programs and the increased frequency of severe weather events.
- The budget constrains the program, meaning not all affected may receive assistance, or the assistance might not fully cover losses. However, it helps mitigate the financial strain for many, improving their overall wellbeing, especially in the short to medium term.
- Wellbeing improvements depend on the amount of loss covered, which likely won't be full. Therefore, individuals experiencing high losses might see low to medium impact, while those experiencing less severe losses might see a higher impact relative to their situation.
- Population commonness values vary, but the focus is on common situations among U.S. farmers regarding crop and livestock losses.
Simulated Interviews
Corn and Beef Farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a lifesaver for small farmers like me, who bore the brunt of unexpected droughts. It won't cover everything, but it's a start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Fruit Orchard Owner (California)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The relief will help, but wildfires are an ongoing threat. I hope for more long-term solutions to deal with climate change impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Rancher (Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a relief to have some financial aid when disasters strike. Livestock losses are devastating but manageable with assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Soybean Farmer (Iowa)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This kind of aid provides necessary support in tough years, but won't cover all our losses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Mixed Crop Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being new to farming, this support is crucial for learning to cope with losses and improve resilience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Sheep Rancher (Montana)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program allows us to recover quicker from losses and reinvest in farm resilience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Fruit Farmer (Florida)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a temporary fix for catastrophic events, but better infrastructure to withstand hurricanes is needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer (Washington)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My crop diversity helped offset some losses, but I appreciate the program for buffering financial shocks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Wheat Farmer (North Dakota)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to relief funds helps, but more comprehensive insurance options would be ideal.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Dairy Farmer (Oregon)
Age: 58 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy provides a short-term financial cushion, but structural issues need addressing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill targets only those farmers and ranchers who experienced losses during the 2022 calendar year, so impacts are contained within a specific timeframe.
- Severity of weather-related events that affect agricultural outputs.
- Historical participation rates in similar relief programs.
- Potential overlap with other existing relief measures might influence individual aid distributions.