The farm bill is legislation is worth more than $90 billion. It deals with everything from farm subsidies to crop insurance; but over 80% of this massive outlay goes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,) which was once called food stamps. More than 45 million people depend on SNAP, especially since the economic downturn. However, in the current versions of the bill both Democrats and Republicans are discussing cutting funds from the program.
In the first of a two-part joint broadcast between Kansas City's KCUR and Iowa Public Radio discussing the farm bill, KCUR's Central Standard with Brian Ellison looks at the future of America's largest hunger safety net.