Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

Know as the Freedom to Farm Act, this was a bill that simplified direct payment programs for crops and eliminated milk price supports via government direct purchases. This authorized production flexibility contract payments that allowed participating producers with fixed government payments regardless of what the prices and productions were in the status quo. 

Specifically, this act outlined money to be made available for contract payments under production flexibility contacts for each year from 1996 to 2002. It additionally increased flexibility by having participating farmers planting 100% of their total contract acreage to any crop, except with certain fruits and vegetables. This gave more power in farming decision-making to the farmers themselves, a move to shift power from the federal government to the local governments and individual citizens. 

​Importantly, this act, in 1996, was done by the famous 104th Congress which was elected following Bill Clinton's first term. 

Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

Directing around 16.5 billion dollars of subsides each year, the act have had a significant effect on the production of grains, oilseeds, and upland cotton. The strangely specialized nature of the bill created much debate at first. However, it was amended by the Senate and the bill passed. The bill created a big expansion in subsidies for the agriculture industry and shifted the focus to conservation. It was balanced through subsidy caps.

Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

Passed in 2008, the bill was a continuation of the 2002 Farm Bill. Continuing the subsidy system of providing farmers with money to plant specific crops, it advocated to keep funding. It also added new areas such as energy conservation, nutrition, and rural development. This act created new initiatives such as Food Stamp benefits, support for cellulosic ethanol, and research for pests and diseases.