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Read. Follow. Verify.Hearing on the State of the Rural Economy (2015)
Record date · January 1, 2015
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What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on February 11, 2015, to discuss the economic challenges facing rural America. The committee and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack reviewed the impact of falling and natural disasters on farm income one year after the passage of the 2014 .
The hearing addresses the financial stability of U.S. agricultural producers, who have faced a 43 percent decline in net farm income over two years and are struggling to secure credit for operations.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Agricultural producers
They are experiencing significant declines in net income and facing challenges in securing credit for their operations.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The agency is responsible for the ongoing implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill.
Key Facts
- Net farm income has declined by an estimated 43 percent over the two-year period preceding February 2015.
- Commodity prices have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the signing of the 2014 Farm Bill.
- 32 states received disaster declarations in 2014 due to drought and other natural disasters.
- Many agricultural producers are currently unable to demonstrate sufficient cash flow to secure necessary credit for farming operations.
Show all 6 facts
- The hearing took place on February 11, 2015, in the Longworth House Office Building.
- The committee is currently overseeing the implementation phase of the 2014 Farm Bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Impact of 2014 Farm Bill
The hearing highlights a rapid divergence between the intent of the 2014 Farm Bill and the economic reality of the agricultural sector one year later.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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