How to Handle Farm Bill Issues in an How to Handle Farm Bill Issues in an

Extension Education Setting?Extension Education Setting?

Principles of Public Policy EducationPrinciples of Public Policy Education

Dr. Mark A. Edelman, Director Dr. Mark A. Edelman, Director Community Vitality Center Community Vitality Center

Professor of Economics and Extension Economist Professor of Economics and Extension Economist Iowa State University Iowa State University

Extension Farm Bill Web Cast SeriesExtension Farm Bill Web Cast Series

June 1, 2007June 1, 2007

How Public Policy Problems are DifferentHow Public Policy Problems are Different

Key Differences:Key Differences: Group Rather than Individual DecisionsGroup Rather than Individual Decisions People Have Different Circumstances People Have Different Circumstances People Hold Different Values on What Should Be People Hold Different Values on What Should Be People Differ in Goals and ObjectivesPeople Differ in Goals and Objectives

Conflicting Views on What Ought to be DoneConflicting Views on What Ought to be Done

Advocate vs EducatorAdvocate vs Educator

An AdvocateAn Advocate believes they have the best believes they have the best solution to a problem, tries to convince solution to a problem, tries to convince others, and encourages others to support others, and encourages others to support their cause in the political process.their cause in the political process.

An EducatorAn Educator enhances learning and enhances learning and understanding, assists others in making understanding, assists others in making their own decisions, and facilitates their own decisions, and facilitates participation in the process participation in the process

Science Can’t Always Solve ProblemsScience Can’t Always Solve Problems

Science solves problems whenScience solves problems when Single objective and relatively few goals Single objective and relatively few goals Objective is clearly revealed and measurableObjective is clearly revealed and measurable Everyone in group agrees with objective & goalsEveryone in group agrees with objective & goals

Public Policy Issues havePublic Policy Issues have Multiple objectives and goalsMultiple objectives and goals Objectives that are unknown or not revealedObjectives that are unknown or not revealed Differing value judgments on what should be done Differing value judgments on what should be done

Science is only a decision tool Science is only a decision tool

Role of Public Policy EducatorsRole of Public Policy Educators in a Democracy in a Democracy

Present Facts Present Facts (evidence of what exists)(evidence of what exists)

Destroy Myths Destroy Myths (incorrect notions that people believe are facts)(incorrect notions that people believe are facts)

Allow citizens & leaders to apply their own valuesAllow citizens & leaders to apply their own values

Facilitate understanding of areas of agreement & Facilitate understanding of areas of agreement & differencesdifferences

Facilitate participation in processFacilitate participation in process

Models for Public Policy Education Models for Public Policy Education

1.1. Observe/Do NothingObserve/Do Nothing

2.2. Inform/StatisticianInform/Statistician

3.3. Advocate/Prescriber ?Advocate/Prescriber ?

4.4. Analytical Advocate (Pros & Cons) ? Analytical Advocate (Pros & Cons) ?

5.5. Analytical Optimizer (Math) ?Analytical Optimizer (Math) ?

6.6. Alternatives and ConsequencesAlternatives and Consequences

7.7. Process FacilitatorProcess Facilitator

Process FacilitatorProcess FacilitatorHelping Clients & Clientele Make Views CountHelping Clients & Clientele Make Views Count

Enhancing Familiarity with IssuesEnhancing Familiarity with Issues History of Proposals, Supporters and OpponentsHistory of Proposals, Supporters and Opponents Popularity of IdeasPopularity of Ideas Costs, Benefits, and TradeoffsCosts, Benefits, and Tradeoffs

Knowing the Decision-MakersKnowing the Decision-Makers History of Views and SupportersHistory of Views and Supporters Personal RelationshipsPersonal Relationships Group RelationshipsGroup Relationships

Knowing the ProcessKnowing the Process

Knowing Farm Bill ProcessesKnowing Farm Bill Processes

Troika (3 horse hitch)Troika (3 horse hitch) Interest Groups (Ag, Environment, Food, & Rural Dev) Interest Groups (Ag, Environment, Food, & Rural Dev) Executive AgenciesExecutive Agencies Congressional CommitteesCongressional Committees

Legislative ProcessLegislative Process Leadership Control (Majority Rules)Leadership Control (Majority Rules) Content Control (Authorization and Oversight)Content Control (Authorization and Oversight) Budget Control (Appropriations)Budget Control (Appropriations)

Best Practices for Communication & Building Best Practices for Communication & Building RelationshipsRelationships

The Farm Bill Legislative ProcessThe Farm Bill Legislative Process Administration Hearings and ProposalsAdministration Hearings and Proposals Ag & Ag Approps Committee Assignments (Leadership)Ag & Ag Approps Committee Assignments (Leadership) Budget Targets and Appropriations (Budget)Budget Targets and Appropriations (Budget) House & Senate Ag Committees (Authorization) House & Senate Ag Committees (Authorization)

Subcommittee Hearings & ProposalsSubcommittee Hearings & Proposals Markup to Committee ProposalMarkup to Committee Proposal Floor DebateFloor Debate Passage by Both Houses Passage by Both Houses

Conference Committee to Iron out DifferencesConference Committee to Iron out Differences Concurrence by Both HousesConcurrence by Both Houses

Presidential Signature or VetoPresidential Signature or Veto

Who Sits on the Ag Committees?Who Sits on the Ag Committees? Senate Members - 21Senate Members - 21

North Central - 11North Central - 11 IA, ND, MI, NE, OH, MNIA, ND, MI, NE, OH, MN IN, KS, MN, SD, IAIN, KS, MN, SD, IA

South - 5South - 5 AR, GA, MS, KY, SC AR, GA, MS, KY, SC

Northeast - 2Northeast - 2 VT, PA VT, PA

West - 3West - 3 MT,CO, ID MT,CO, ID

House Members - 46House Members - 46

North Central - 18North Central - 18 MN, IA, SD, IN, KS, OH, MN, WI, ND, MN, IA, SD, IN, KS, OH, MN, WI, ND,

ININ KS, IL, MO, IA, NE, OH, NE, MIKS, IL, MO, IA, NE, OH, NE, MI

South - 19South - 19 NC, NC, GA, GA, TX, TN, GA, TX, FLNC, NC, GA, GA, TX, TN, GA, TX, FL VA, AL, OK, NC, AL, AL, TX, LA, NC, VA, AL, OK, NC, AL, AL, TX, LA, NC,

TX TX

Northeast - 3Northeast - 3 PA, NY, NY PA, NY, NY

West - 6West - 6 CA, CA, CA, COCA, CA, CA, CO CO, CA CO, CA

Funds AvailableFunds Available

Senate Target:Senate Target: $20 billion over 5 Years above Baseline $20 billion over 5 Years above Baseline

House Target:House Target: $15 billion over 5 years above Baseline $15 billion over 5 years above Baseline

2007 Farm Bill Issues and Resources2007 Farm Bill Issues and Resources Iowa Farmer Preferences on 2007 Farm Bill IssuesIowa Farmer Preferences on 2007 Farm Bill Issues (PDF file) (PDF file) The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences, 2006The 2007 Farm Bill: U.S. Producer Preferences, 2006

USDA 2007 Farm Bill PageUSDA 2007 Farm Bill Page Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and ForestrySenate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry House Agriculture Committee House Agriculture Committee

Policy Centers specializing in Farm Bill Issues AnalysisPolicy Centers specializing in Farm Bill Issues Analysis CARD (Iowa State University) CARD (Iowa State University) Agriculture and Food Policy Center (Texas A&M) Agriculture and Food Policy Center (Texas A&M) Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (University of Tennessee) Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (University of Tennessee) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Rural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Rural Policy Research Institute (Missouri) Farm Foundation (Chicago) Farm Foundation (Chicago)

Extension Public Policy Education PrinciplesExtension Public Policy Education Principles Public Policy Education by Richard Barrows (PDF file)Public Policy Education by Richard Barrows (PDF file)

CVC Web Site: CVC Web Site: www.cvcia.org