Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana
Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator for Indiana
Home > Senator Lugar's Farm Bill > Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws

Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws

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B&CMA — Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturers' Association. www.thebcma.org.
B&I — Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program.
Backgrounding — An intermediate stage sometimes used in cattle production which begins after weaning and ends upon placement in a feedlot. Background feeding relies more heavily on forage (e.g., pasture, hay) in combination with grains to increase a calf's weight by several hundred pounds and to build up immunity to diseases before it enters a feedlot. Some cattle operations specialize in backgrounding.
BACT — Best available control technology.
Balance on merchandise trade — Sometimes referred to as balance of trade or trade balance, it is the difference in value between a country's merchandise imports and exports in a year. Agricultural imports and exports are components of merchandise trade. Since 1960, agricultural exports have exceeded imports every year.
Band application — The spreading of chemicals over, or next to, each row of plants in a field, as opposed to broadcast application.
Bank for Cooperatives (BC) — Lending institution within the Farm Credit System that provides credit to agricultural cooperatives and rural utility cooperatives nationwide. Nationally chartered CoBank has the authority to finance U.S. agricultural exports and to provide international banking services to farmer-owned cooperatives. www.cobank.com.
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937 — P.L. 75-210 authorized acquisition by the federal government of damaged lands to rehabilitate and use them for various purposes. Both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management manage some Bankhead-Jones lands. Some Forest Service Bankhead-Jones lands are National Grasslands.
Bargaining association — A farmer cooperative intended primarily to influence farm prices or other terms of trade between the members and the buyers of the commodities they produce.
Barrows and gilts — A barrow is a young castrated male hog. A gilt is a young female hog. Both are raised for pork. Market news reports of prices paid for barrows and gilts are of keen interest to producers and packers alike, as those are the primary slaughter animals.
Barter — A form of countertrade in which goods having comparable values are exchanged under a single contract, within a specified period of time, and without any flow of money taking place. The U.S. government ran a barter program from 1950 to 1973, exchanging surplus agricultural commodities for strategic materials and for goods and services it otherwise would have purchased. In addition, barter agreements between the United States and Jamaica were signed in 1982 and 1983.
Base acreage — A farm's crop-specific acreage of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, soybeans, canola, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sunflowers, and rice eligible to enroll in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) under the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 101-171, Sec. 1101-1108). A farmer's crop acreage base is reduced by the portion of cropland placed in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), but increased by CRP base acreage leaving the CRP. Farmers have the choice of base acreage used to calculate Production Flexibility Contract payments for crop year 2002, or the average of acres planted for crop years 1998 through 2001.
Base acres (or acreage base) — For purposes of Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) payments under the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 1101), a farm's average planted acreage of specific crops (covered commodities and peanuts) over the four years 1998-2001, plus land cropland prevented by disaster from being planted, or 2002 contract acreage under the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127). Payments acres are equal to 85% of base acres.
Base period price — The average price for an item in a specified time period used as a base for an index, such as 1910-14, 1957-59, 1967, 1977, or 1982. Time series of data are often deflated to a base period price. Such deflated time series are referred to as constant dollar values (versus nominal dollar values).
Base property — For the Bureau of Land Management: land or water resources, owned or controlled by a holder of a grazing permit or lease, that are suitable to support livestock for a part of the year. For the Forest Service: lands and improvements owned and used by a permittee for a farm or ranch and designated by the permittee to qualify for a grazing permit. One must own or control base property to be eligible for permits or leases to graze private livestock on federal lands.
Baseline budget estimate (agriculture) — A 10-year projection of mandatory spending (commodity support, crop insurance, food assistance, and certain conservation and trade programs) based on current law and current policy. Critical for commodity and trade program spending are the long-run projections of supply/use, trade, and prices for major U.S. commodities, while participation estimates are critical for food assistance, crop insurance and conservation. The baseline projections are developed on specific assumptions regarding macroeconomic conditions, weather, and international developments. The baseline is most important as a reference scenario for evaluating changes in the underlying economic assumptions and in alternative policy proposals. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) baseline is used in the preparation of the congressional budget resolution, in developing reconciliation instructions, and in estimating the cost of pending legislation as bills are debated. The USDA, as part of the President's annual budget process develops its own annual baseline, which is released with the budget request sent to Congress in early February. Both CBO and USDA re-estimate the baseline in mid-year, which is called the mid-session review. The CBO baseline takes on added importance when Congress imposes upon itself extraordinary spending constraints.
Baseline budget estimate — A projection of future revenues, expenditures, and other budget amounts under assumed economic conditions and participation rates, and assuming no change in current policy. The baseline is usually projected annually by the Congressional Budget Office for each of the subsequent five to ten years. It is used in the preparation of the congressional budget resolution and reconciliation instructions, and in estimating the amount of deficit reduction in reconciliation bills and the effects of legislation on the budget. USDA, in conjunction with the Office of Management and Budget also develops its own annual agriculture baseline budget. It projects what would be expected to happen under a continuation of current U.S. and international farm policy, trade agreements, and specific assumptions about external conditions. The baseline scenario provides a reference projection from which USDA analysts make comparisons of alternate scenarios by altering any of the assumed underlying policies or conditions.
Basic commodities — Six agricultural crops (corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, tobacco, and wheat) declared by permanent law (in the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938) as requiring federal price support. Nonbasic commodities are the others for which USDA is authorized to provide price support in permanent law.
Basic formula price (BFP) — Up until January 2000, the BFP was calculated monthly by USDA and used as the base price for all milk regulated by federal milk marketing orders. Subsequently, a different and more complex formula currently is used by USDA to establish minimum farm milk prices under federal milk marketing orders.
Basing point — A geographical site used to establish minimum fluid milk prices for federal milk marketing orders. Generally, minimum fluid farm milk prices increase according to the distance from the basing point. When federal milk marketing orders began in the 1930s, Eau Clare, Wisconsin was viewed as the principal surplus milk production region in the nation and hence served as the basing point for most milk priced under federal milk marketing orders. Generally, the further a region is from the Upper Midwest, the higher that region's minimum price for fluid farm milk. Some have argued that there currently are other surplus production regions in the country (e.g., in the northeast and southwest) which should serve as basing points. An attempt by USDA to establish a pricing structure using multiple basing points was thwarted by legislation in 1999 (P.L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(8), which enacted H.R. 3428).
Basis risk — The possibility of unexpected variation in basis and a resulting loss of expected revenue when a futures contract is liquidated and the commodity sold on the cash market.
Basis — The difference between the current spot price (or cash price) of a commodity and the price of the nearest futures contract for the same or a related commodity. Basis is usually computed in relation to the futures contract next to expire and may reflect different time periods, product forms, qualities, or locations.
Baskets — Used in free trade agreements (FTAs) to categorize products by tariff reduction and/or quota elimination periods. For example, the U.S.-Chile FTA uses five baskets for removing trade barriers on most products traded between both countries. Tariffs on products placed in the A basket are eliminated immediately. Products in the B, C, D, and E baskets have phase-out periods of 4, 8, 10, and 12 years respectively. Sensitive agricultural products (many of which are currently protected by tariff-rate quotas) are usually placed in the last basket.
BAT — Best available technology.
bbf — Billion board feet.
BC — Banks for Cooperatives. www.cobank.com.
BCS — Basic conservation systems.
Beef (cattle) price index (BPI) — An index of the weighted average annual price for beef cattle, excluding calves, for a 16 western state area as compared with a specific base period equal to 100. This index is used in calculating federal grazing fees.
Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program — USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) initiated BEV in August 2003 as a voluntary, user-fee funded service. Under BEV, U.S. exporters desiring to sell beef to Japan (or any other country that may request similar documentation) can apply for BEV certification from AMS after satisfying a list of requirements enabling the agency to verify the origin of the beef. The program was in response to Japanese officials' demands that the United States verify that none its beef exports were of Canadian origin, in the wake of the May 2003 discovery in Canada of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). After the December 2003 discovery of a BSE cow in the United States, Japan was among the first of the many countries to suspend some or all imports of U.S. cattle, beef and related products, so the future of BEV is clouded.
Beefalo — Beefalo are a cross between Bison ( American Buffalo ) and domestic cattle. This produces meat very low in fat and cholesterol. When emergency livestock assistance has been implemented, beefalo and buffalo have been eligible if maintained on the same basis as beef cattle. Also, beefalo and buffalo were eligible for Livestock Compensation Program payments.
Beginning farmer or rancher — An eligibility term used in some farm programs, usually to identify a subgroup who may benefit from additional assistance. Under the Conservation Security Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), it includes any individual or entity who has been operating a farm or ranch for less than 10 years and materially participates in its operation. People meeting this classification may be eligible for additional incentives to encourage conservation stewardship, such as higher percentages of cost-sharing payments. Under Farm Service Agency (FSA) farm ownership and operating loan programs, the beginning farmer or rancher must have an operation be no larger than 30% of the average size farm in the county. For direct operating loans, a further requirement is that the applicant must have participated in the business operation of a farm for at least 3 years. People who meet these requirements get preferential access to federal financial assistance.
Below-cost timber sale — A timber sale from national forest lands in which the expected federal revenues are less than the estimated federal expenses to sell the timber.
Benefit/cost analysis — A quantitative and sometimes qualitative evaluation of the costs which would be incurred by some action (such as building a dam, or implementing an environmental regulation) versus the overall benefits to society of the proposed action. See Risk-benefit analysis.
Best management practices (BMP) — A conservation practice or combination of practices designed to maintain agricultural productivity while reducing point- and nonpoint- source water pollution. State water quality agencies (or their designees) determine BMPs to fit local conditions and to make the most efficient use of natural resources and purchased inputs.
BEV — Beef Export Verification Program
BFP — Basic formula price.
BFW — Bread for the World. www.bread.org.
BGH — Bovine growth hormone (see Bovine somatotropin).
B&I — Business and industry.
BICO Report — The Foreign Agricultural Service's report of U.S. export and import data on Bulk, Intermediate, and Consumer-Oriented (BICO) agricultural commodities. In addition, the data base includes forest products and edible fish and seafood products. These trade data are further classified among dozens of separate product groups. Data are available in both calendar and fiscal year format and for numerous world regions and individual country markets. See also FATUS and U.S. Trade Internet System.
Bidding down — A process that has been used in several conservation programs to increase the cost-effectiveness to the government by allowing potential participants who would provide the same conservation benefits if they are accepted into a program to offer to participate at lower rental rates in the Conservation Reserve Program or less federal financial assistance in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Bilateral aid — Development assistance provided directly by a donor country to a recipient country in contrast to multilateral aid that is provided through international agencies.
Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 — P.L. 104-210 (42 U.S.C. 1791) was named in honor of the late Missouri Representative who championed efforts to expand food donations to the poor and provide legal protections for those making food donations. This law makes permanent the Model Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (P.L. 101-610, Sec. 402) and incorporates it into the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-642, Sec. 22; 42 U.S.C. 1791). Good Samaritan laws are designed to encourage the donation of food and groceries to nonprofit charitable agencies by minimizing the risks of legal actions against donors and distributors of foods. The amended law excludes from civil or criminal liability a person or nonprofit food organization that, in good faith, donates or distributes donated foods for food relief. This does not supersede state or local health regulations and its protections do not apply to an injury or death due to gross neglect or intentional misconduct.
Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust — A reserve of commodities and cash held in trust to supplement food aid made available under P.L. 480 programs. The Trust can hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum, and rice; the authorizing statute also authorizes the Trust to hold cash in lieu of commodities. The Trust was first established as the Food Security Wheat Reserve in 1980 in P.L.96-494, Title III. Subsequently the authorization for this reserve was expanded to include corn, rice, and sorghum in addition to wheat by the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127, Sec. 225). Renamed the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust in 1998 legislation (P.L. 105-385, Sec. 211), which also authorized it to hold cash in addition to commodities, it was extended through 2007 by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 3202). Commodities (or cash) can be released from the Trust to meet unanticipated needs for emergency food assistance or when domestic supplies are insufficient to meet P.L. 480 (7 U.S.C. 1736f-1) programming requirements.
Bioaccumulation — The increase in concentration of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and certain pesticides in plants and animals as they take in contaminated air, water, or food, because the substances are very slowly broken down in the body or excreted. Toxicity can be expressed in several ways: lead that is ingested by calves can bioaccumulate in their bones, interfering with calcium absorption and bone development; stored chemicals may be released to the blood stream at a later time, for example, during gestation or weight loss; and, chemicals may concentrate to lethal levels at upper ends of the food chain. Bioconcentration is a synonym for bioaccumulation.
Biobased Products — Commercial and consumer products produced from biomass, including chemicals and plastics. The term generally applies to products that typically are produced from other sources (e.g., lubricants), as opposed to those traditionally produced from biomass (e.g., paper).
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — A measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by natural, biological processes that break down organic matter, such as those that take place when manure or sawdust is put in water. High levels of oxygen-demanding wastes in waters deplete dissolved oxygen (DO) thereby endangering aquatic life. Sometimes referred to as biological oxygen demand. BOD is a standard measure of water quality. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of the oxygen consumed when organic or inorganic matter is oxidized in water chemically, rather than biologically.
Bioconcentration — See Bioaccumulation.
Biodiesel — An alternative renewable fuel, produced from vegetable oils or animal fats through a refinery process called transesterification. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel is most commonly used as a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel (called "B20"). Its use can result in substantial reduction of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. However, nitrogen oxide emissions tend to increase with biodiesel use. Provisions of the Energy Conservation Reauthorization Act (ECRA) of 1998 (P.L. 105-388) amended the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992 (P.L. 102-486) to allow that the use of biodiesel added to conventional diesel at blends of 20% and higher would produce credits to offset up to 50% each year of alternative fuel vehicle acquisition requirements. Farmers and processors anticipate that increased use of biodiesel will strengthen the market for soybean oil.
Biodiversity (or biological diversity) — In general, the variety and variation among plants, animals, and microorganisms, and among their ecosystems. It has 3 levels: ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic (within species) diversity. Genetic diversity provides resources for genetic resistance to pests and diseases. In agriculture, biodiversity is a production system characterized by the presence of multiple plant and/or animal species, as contrasted with the genetic specialization of monoculture. Advocates of maintaining biodiversity hold that civilization should preserve the greatest possible number of existing species so that a highly diverse genetic pool, which might be tapped for useful and beneficial characteristics, will be available into the future; and argue further that damage to the planet's biodiversity risks harm with effects on humans that can not be predicted with current knowledge.
Bioenergy Program — An initiative of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in 2000 that was codified into law by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 9010). The program makes payments to ethanol and biodiesel producers who expand their production capacity. In the year of the expansion, the program payments help offset the cost of the additional commodity feedstocks (usually corn for ethanol and soybeans for biodiesel) needed for the expansion. Spending for the program is capped at $150 million annually. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that $204 million total will be spent between FY2002 and FY2006.
Bioenergy — Electricity, motor fuels (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel), or other energy products produced from biomass.
Bioengineering — See Genetic engineering.
Biofuels — Fuels made from biomass, which in the United States largely include corn-based ethanol (blended into gasoline and called gasohol) and soybean-based biodiesel. Biofuels are a subset of renewable fuels, which are a subset of alternative fuels.
Biological control — The practice of using beneficial natural organisms to attack and control harmful plant and animal pests and weeds is called biological control, or biocontrol. This can include introducing predators, parasites, and disease organisms, or releasing sterilized individuals. Biocontrol methods may be an alternative or complement to chemical pest control methods. Biocontrol is part of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) program to control several economically important pests of food and fiber crops; it also is researched and used by other USDA agencies that promote integrated pest management.
Biological monitoring — Using living organisms to test the quality of either effluent to be discharged into receiving waters, or waters downstream from a discharge.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) — See Biochemical oxygen demand.
Biologics — Immunization vaccines, bacterins, antigens, and antitoxins and other preparations made from living organisms and their products, intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing, or treating humans or animals, or in related research. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has responsibility for approving some animal biologics. See Veterinary biologics.
Biomagnification (or biological magnification) — The increase in the concentration of bioaccumulated toxic chemicals in organisms higher on the food chain due to preferential storage of the toxic chemical in edible body parts. For example, chlorinated pesticides concentrate in the fat and skin of fish in contaminated lakes and streams and are biomagnified when those fish are eaten by larger fish, and perhaps eventually by mammals or birds of prey.
Biomass — The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-224, Title III) defines biomass as "any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood wastes and residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, fibers, and animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials." The objective of this Biomass Act is to encourage the development of biomass as a feedstock in the production of fuels, chemicals, and other products.
Biopesticide — A pesticide that is biological in origin (i.e., viruses, bacteria, pheromones, natural plant compounds) in contrast to synthetic chemicals. Transgenic Bt cotton and corn are biopesticides because Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that has been genetically engineered into the plants.
Biopharmaceutical (biopharm) crops — Crops that are bioengineered to produce pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and other medical and industrial products (sometimes called plant-made pharmaceuticals). Controversy surrounds the effect that these crops might have on native plants if cross pollination takes place. The flow of genetic modifications from bioengineered crops to their conventional native counterparts is a matter of concern to scientists and regulators. FDA, EPA, and USDA have a coordinated effort to assure that field tests are designed to prevent biotechnology-derived genes and gene products from appearing in commercial seed, commodities, and processed food and feed.
Biorefinery — A facility that converts biomass into fuels and chemicals.
Biosafety Protocol — Adopted in January 2000 by parties to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, this protocol (sometimes referred to as the Cartagena Protocol) "seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology." It establishes a procedure for advanced notification so that countries are provided with the "information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory." It is tied to the so-called "precautionary approach" and also establishes a biosafety clearinghouse. The United States is not among the more than 100 countries that signed the protocol.
Biosecurity — Biosecurity refers to agricultural practicesxbgnxintended to reduce or prevent the introduction of infectious diseases on a farm or other production facility, and includes practices such as limiting access by personnel and vehicles, reviewing and screening introduced items such a seed, feed and new animals, and controlling vermin. More recently, biosecurity programs have incorporated elements to protect against terrorism, vandalism, and other intentional acts that could compromise disease control, whether or not they were the primary aim of the illicit acts.
Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program — The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171 Sec. 3204) authorizes appropriations of up to $6 million annually for technical assistance and public and private sector project grants to remove or mitigate significant foreign regulatory nontariff barriers to U.S. exports involving: agricultural commodities produced through biotechnology. Funds can also be used to address trade-related food safety, disease, and other sanitary and phytosanitary trade concerns.
Biotechnology — Broadly defined as transferring genes from one living entity (plant, animal, or microbe) into another (or into a synthetic compound) using advanced recombinant DNA technology (also called genetic engineering (GE)). Biotechnology has been used to develop Bt crops, herbicide-tolerant crops, and quality enhanced crops, and currently is being investigated as a way to develop crops (or animals) containing pharmaceuticals for use in animals or humans (called farmaceuticals). Prior to the emergence of biotechnology, scientists made improvements in plants or animals through selective breeding.
Bioterrorism — Bioterrorism, with regard to agriculture, refers to threats to the nation's food supply and agricultural resources (including agricultural research and testing laboratories) from deliberate acts of terrorism, such as introducing pests intended to kill U.S. food crops; spreading a virulent disease among animal production facilities; or poisoning water and food supplies. Congress passed the Public Health Security and the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188) in order to bolster protections against bioterrorism aimed at the nation's food and water supplies, and prevent unauthorized access to certain animal and plant disease organisms in laboratories.
Blair House Agreement — The November 1992 agreement between the United States and the European Union on export subsidy and domestic subsidy reduction commitments in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. The agreement also dealt with some bilateral agricultural trade issues.
Blend price — Primarily used in the federal milk marketing order program. It is the weighted average price of milk, per hundred pounds, paid to each farmer based on how Grade A (fluid grade) milk is allocated by processors to different usage classes (e.g., fluid, manufacturing).
Blending — In grain marketing, the combining of two different qualities of grain in order to change the total value of both lots. For example, it is common to blend grains of differing moisture or different foreign material content to achieve the requirements of a contract order.
BLM — Bureau of Land Management. www.blm.gov.
Blocked stocks — See Overall allotment quantity.
BLS — Bureau of Labor Statistics. www.bls.gov.
Blue box policies — Direct payments, under the definition of "production-limiting" measures as defined in Article 6 of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, that are not subject to the commitment to reduce domestic support. To qualify for the exemption, payments must be based on fixed areas or yields, on a fixed number of livestock, or on 85% or less of the base level of production. See Green box policies, and Amber box policies.
BMP — Best management practice(s).
Board foot — A measure for lumber, equal to a 1-inch thick board that is 12 inches wide and 1 foot long in nominal dimensions (a 2x6, for example, is less than 2 inches thick and 6 inches wide, but a 1-foot long 2x6 is still counted as 1 board foot); typically reported in thousands of board feet (mbf). Also used to estimate the volume of lumber that can be produced from logs and standing trees.
Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources — See National Academy of Sciences. www7.nationalacademies.org/banr.
BOD — Biochemical oxygen demand; biological oxygen demand.
Boll weevil — An insect pest of cotton whose eradication is the object of an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service program cooperatively funded and managed by cotton producers.
Bonus commodities — From the agricultural perspective, these are commodities donated to domestic feeding programs that USDA acquires for unexpected surplus removal reasons or because the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) holdings acquired under its price support programs are not needed for other purposes, or are in danger of waste or spoilage. For example, if meat prices fall, USDA may buy beef and donate it to the National School Lunch Program, or if the CCC is holding an excess of cornmeal that is in danger of spoiling, it might donate this to the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP/TEFAP). From the food program perspective, these are commodities that are donated in addition to the commodities that must be provided under mandatory requirements in food program statutes.
BOR — Bureau of Reclamation. www.usbr.gov.
Border price — See Reference price.
Botanical pesticides — Pesticides whose active ingredients are plant-produced chemicals such as nicotine, rotenone, or strychnine. Also called plant-derived pesticides. Being natural pesticides, as distinct from synthetic ones, they are typically acceptable to organic farmers.
Bottom — Usually synonymous with vessel or ship. A ship of American registry may be referred to as a U.S. bottom, whereas if registry is other than U.S., the ship, in U.S. usage, may be called a foreign bottom.
Bound tariff rate — The most-favored-nation tariff rate resulting from negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and incorporated as an integral component of a country's schedule of concessions or commitments to other World Trade Organization members. If a country raises a tariff to a higher level than its bound rate, those adversely affected can seek remedy through the dispute settlement process and may obtain the right to retaliate against an equivalent value of the offending country's exports or the right to receive compensation, usually in the form of reduced tariffs on other products they export to the offending country. See Tariff, and Applied tariff.
Bovine (cattle) Tuberculosis (TB) — TB is a contagious disease that can affect all warm blooded vertebrates, including humans and cattle, and can cross species. Bovine TB, which has affected animal and human health since antiquity, was once the most prevalent--and costly--infectious disease of cattle and swine in the United States. Starting in 1917, the Cooperative State-Federal Tuberculosis Eradication Program, which is administered by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), State animal health agencies, and U.S. livestock producers, has nearly eradicated bovine TB from the Nation's livestock population. Its presence in humans has been reduced as a result of the eradication program, advances in sanitation and hygiene, the discovery of effective drugs, and pasteurization of milk.
Bovine growth hormone (BGH) — See Bovine somatotropin (bST).
Bovine somatotropin (bST) — Also called bovine growth hormone, bST is a naturally occurring protein that has been genetically engineered as a synthetic compound (now manufactured in large quantities and commercially available to farmers) that causes cows to increase the efficiency of milk production per unit of feed consumed. Its use has caused public controversy, and some states require retail dairy product labels to identify the use of synthetic bST.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) — Commonly known as mad cow disease, BSE is a slowly progressive, incurable disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. It was first diagnosed in 1986 in Great Britain, where most of the world's estimated 187,000 known cases have occurred. The first indigenous North American cases were discovered in a Canadian cow in May 2003 and in a U.S. cow in December 2003. Prior to these findings, USDA already was banning the imports of live cattle from Great Britain (since 1989) and later the rest of Europe, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was partially banning the use of ruminant protein in animal feed (since 1997). Consumption by cattle of BSE-contaminated ruminant proteins in animal feed has been cited as the most likely means of transmission, and the North American cows are believed to have contracted the disease prior to the feed ban (although that has never been verified). Despite the link scientists have made between BSE in cattle and several dozen European cases of a human variant of BSE, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, BSE is not viewed by most experts as a major public health threat here. However, the recent outbreaks have had major implications for the U.S. and Canadian beef industries, because most foreign markets have closed their borders to their beef and cattle exports (as the United States itself routinely has done). By early 2004, U.S. officials had announced additional regulatory actions to test for BSE in the cattle herd, to contain any possible spread, and to keep it out of the food supply, all in hopes of maintaining consumer confidence in beef and in regaining foreign markets.
Boxed beef — Beef that a packer cuts into relatively small pieces, seals in vacuum packs, and ships in cardboard boxes, often ready for retail sale. Prior to the 1970s, most beef left the packer as partial carcasses.
BPI — Beef (Cattle) Price Index.
BPT — Best practicable technology, best practicable treatment.
Bracero — Term often applied generically to alien agricultural workers and to programs allowing them into the United States for agricultural work. Originally this term was given to a series of formal agreements between the U.S. and Mexico in 1942 that allowed Mexican nationals to enter the U.S. for short term agriculture and other types of work. These guestworkers were afforded some labor standard protections and a portion of their earnings was set aside to be paid to them upon their return to Mexico. Controversial in both countries, the bracero program, as it popularly was termed, remained in place in varied forms until the mid-1960s.
Breastfeeding promotion — Relates to activities required to be carried out by state and local agencies using federal funds provided for nutrition education and administrative services under the WIC program. States are required to use a portion of funds they receive to promote breastfeeding by postpartum mothers participating in the program.
Broadcast application — The spreading of pesticides or fertilizers over an entire area. See Band application.
Broiler — A young chicken, usually 5 to 8 weeks old and 3 to 5 pounds, raised primarily for its meat. Broilers, unlike laying hens, are raised on the floor of chicken houses and not in cages. Most broiler production in done by growers under contract with processing plants, following prescribed management plans. Broiler production and marketing is one of the most vertically coordinated livestock systems.
Brownfields — Under the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001 (Title II of P.L. 107-118), the term brownfield site means "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." This EPA program provides grants for brownfield assessment and cleanup, and for job training. Other agencies also have brownfield programs; worth noting is the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Brownfield Economic Development Initiative (BEDI).
Brucellosis — A highly contagious disease of cattle, goats, sheep, and swine that weakens livestock and causes spontaneous abortion in breeding herds. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), as part of its brucellosis eradication program, destroys affected herds and makes payments to farmers in partial compensation for their losses. APHIS also has been working with the U.S. Park Service and western states to eliminate the threat to ranch cattle of becoming infected with brucellosis from free-ranging bison. Brucellosis also can be transmitted to humans (undulant fever).
BSE — Bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
bST — Bovine somatotropin.
Bt crops — Crops that have been genetically engineered to carry the gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. This bacterium produces a protein that is toxic when ingested by certain moth and butterfly caterpillars that are destructive to crops. Crops containing the Bt gene are able to produce this toxin, thereby providing protection throughout the entire plant. For example, Bt corn is genetically engineered to provide protection exclusively against the European corn borer and other caterpillar pests and Bt cotton is genetically engineered to control exclusively tobacco budworms, bollworms, and pink bollworms, and other caterpillar pests.
Bt — Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring soil bacterium, commonly known as Bt, that produces a natural protein that kills insects after the protein is ingested. Bt is a biological pesticide (biopesticide) that can be used as a spray or dust. Alternatively, the Bt gene can be genetically engineered into a crop variety and produce the toxic protein, which is specific to a small subset of insects, within the plant. Cotton has been genetically altered to control the tobacco budworm, bollworm and pink bollworm. Potatoes have been altered to control the Colorado potato beetle. A new hybrid of Bt corn, altered to be resistant to the European corn borer, has been available since 1997. Bt degrades rapidly to non-toxic compounds. It is not known to present any human or animal hazards. Pest resistance management (PRM) plans are required by the EPA as part of the registration.
bu. — bushel.
Budget authority — Authority provided by law to incur financial obligations that will result in immediate or future outlays of federal government funds. Budget authority may be provided in an appropriation act or authorization act. The laws requiring mandatory spending for commodity support, several conservation programs, crop insurance, and food stamps create budget authority. Most other programs operated by the USDA receive budget authority from appropriation acts.
Budget resolution — The annual framework that Congress uses to set targets for total spending and revenues. These targets, which are initially reported by the House and Senate Budget Committees, guide the appropriations committees' deliberations. It also may include binding instructions on the level of savings each committee must produce (see Reconciliation). A budget resolution does not become law and is not binding on the Executive Branch.
Buffer Initiative — An initiative led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with numerous partners, and started in 1997 to enroll 2 million miles (up to 7 million acres) in conservation buffers by 2002, using the Conservation Reserve Program's continuous enrollment option, and drawing on the resources of several other agricultural conservation programs, including EQIP, Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
Buffer strips — Slender areas of permanent vegetation, often planted along the edge or the contour of a field, usually to slow the flow of water or the velocity of wind, in order to trap sediment and other materials (nutrients, pesticides, and certain pathogens) before they leave the farm and become pollutants. Types of buffers include filter strips, field borders, grassed waterways, field windbreaks, shelterbelts, contour grass strips, and riparian buffers. Also called conservation buffers.
Bulgur — Wheat that has been parboiled, dried, and partially debranned for later use in cracked or whole grain form.
Bulk carrier — Refers to two types of cargo ships: the dry-bulk carrier; and the liquid-bulk carrier, better known as a tanker. Bulk cargo is a shipment such as oil, grain, or ore, that is not packaged, baled, bottled, or otherwise packed and is loaded without counting or marking.
Bulk commodities — Generally, high volume, low value unprocessed agricultural commodities that are treated as though they are homogeneous (fungible) prior to processing. Grains, oilseeds, and cotton are considered bulk commodities. Contrasting categories are high value or value-added commodities, semiprocessed and processed commodities, and consumer ready commodities. Historically, bulk commodities constituted the major portion of U.S. agricultural exports. Beginning in 1991, high value commodities have surpassed bulk commodities as the leading agricultural export category. See Intermediate agricultural products, and Consumer-oriented agricultural products.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — A bureau within the Department of the Interior that has jurisdiction over about 264 million acres of land. A majority of this land is in the western states, and approximately one-third of the land is in Alaska. BLM also is responsible for 700 million acres of federal subsurface mineral resources, supervises mineral operations on 56 million acres of Indian trust lands, and carries out a fire management program on 370 million acres of land. www.blm.gov.
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) — A bureau within the Department of the Interior, whose mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources. The agency replaced the Reclamation Service, which was established to implement the Reclamation Act of 1902 to "reclaim (arid lands) throughout the West through irrigation." The Bureau built, operates, and maintains more than 300 storage dams on rivers throughout the western United States. www.usbr.gov.
Burley tobacco — The main type of air-cured tobacco; a cigarette tobacco that together with flue-cured tobacco accounts for more than 90% of total U.S. production. Burley production is centered in Kentucky. Burley tobacco production, until 2005, was limited by national marketing quotas and was eligible for nonrecourse price support loans.
Bushel — A dry volume measure of varying weight for grain, fruit, etc., equal to four pecks or eight gallons (2150.42 cubic inches). A bushel of wheat, soybeans, and white potatoes each weighs 60 pounds. A bushel of corn, rye, grain sorghum, and flaxseed each weighs 56 pounds. A bushel of barley, buckwheat, and apples each weighs 48 pounds.
Business incubator — A facility that supports the development and operation of a number of small start-up businesses. Tenants of the facility share a number of support services including computers, support staff, telecommunications equipment, and janitorial services. Occupants also may receive technical assistance, business planning, legal, financial, and marketing advice.
Butter-Powder Tilt — The farm bill requires USDA to support the farm price of milk at $9.90/cwt. by standing ready to purchase surplus butter, cheese and nonfat dry milk when wholesale prices for these commodities fall below administratively set levels. The 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 1501) allows USDA to adjust the government purchase price of butter and nonfat dry milk twice annually in order to better manage its inventories of surplus milk products and minimize government costs. However, whenever the purchase price of one commodity is reduced by USDA, it must increase the purchase price of the other commodity so that the overall support price of milk remains at $9.90 per cwt. This price adjustment is referred to as the butter-powder tilt.
Buy-up coverage — The portion of crop insurance coverage for which a participating farmer pays a premium. Current law offers catastrophic (CAT) crop insurance coverage without any premium payments required of the farmer. Any coverage that is purchased above the CAT level is referred to as buy-up coverage, and is partially subsidized by the federal government.
Buying-in price — The percentage of the intervention price at which EU national intervention agencies actually purchase commodities into intervention.
Buyout — In the context of commodity and farm support policy, the term buyout relates to compensation for the loss or decline in value of assets due to a change in policy or program design. For example, the 2002 farm bill, (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 1309) established a buyout of peanut quotas in conjunction with the complete redesign of the peanut support program. A buyout of tobacco quotas was enacted in 2004 (P.L. 108-357, Title VI). A whole-herd dairy buyout program was authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-198) and was called the Dairy Termination Program.
Byrd Amendment — Formally the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, this amendment to the FY2001 agricultural appropriations law (P.L. 106-387, Sec. 1003) requires that anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD), whether non-agricultural or agricultural, be redistributed to the domestic industries that were found to be injured by the imports. Such duties previously went into the general U.S. Treasury. The World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2004 determined that the amendment violates its rules. The 108th Congress did not enact legislation to comply with the WTO decision.