Teaching Guide

Topic: Reallocation of Base Acres

Host: Faith Cook

Guests: George McDonald, Owner of Catesa Farms and TCGA member; Casey Youngermann, American Soybean Association Board of Directors and TN Soybean Association State Director

Description: With the 2023 Farm Bill being a main topic of discussion in the agriculture industry, base acreage has been brought before legislators several times. Base acres are the amount of acres that a farm has for a certain commodity, and they affect how much a producer can receive through crop insurance or relief funding. While many corn growers believe that there is a much needed reallocation of base acreage, other farmers disagree and would prefer that other issues be dealt with before this.

Objectives:

1. I can explain the importance of base acreage in the context of agriculture.

2. I can identify opposing sides of the argument surrounding the reallocation of base acreage.

3. I can identify my point of view on whether or not base acreage should be reallocated.

Pre-Viewing Questions:

1. Write at least one thing that you know about disaster funding in the agriculture industry.

2. What do you think base acres are?

3. If someone has 10 base acres on 100 acres of farmland, should they be given more base acres?

Guided Questions:

1. What does Mr. McDonald, the first guest, explain about base acres?

2. Write down one of the examples that Mr. McDonald gave about farms and their base acres.

3. How does Mr. McDonald think the 2023 Farm Bill will impact base acre reallocation?

4. What does Mr. Youngermann, the second guest, explain about base acres?

5.  What is Mr. Youngermann’s personal experience with base acres?

6.  What does Mr. Youngermann say about the cost of a mandatory reallocation of base acres?

Post-Listening Questions:

1. Provide two reasons for why someone would be for the reallocation of base acreage. Give an example.

2. Provide two reasons for why someone would be against the reallocation of base acreage. Give an example.

3. In your opinion, should there be a reallocation of base acres? If so, should it be mandatory? Provide reasoning for your opinion on base acre reallocation.

Scoring Rubric for Post-Listening Questions

1. Provide two reasons for why someone would be for the reallocation of base acreage. Give an example.

• Level One: Student provides one reason and no example.

• Level Two: Student provides one reason and one example.

• Level Three: Student provides two different reasons and an example for why someone would be for the reallocation of base acres using complete sentences.

2. Provide two reasons for why someone would be against the reallocation of base acreage. Give an example.

• Level One: Student provides one reason and no example.

• Level Two: Student provides one reason and one example.

• Level Three: Student provides two different reasons and an example for why someone would be against the reallocation of base acres using complete sentences.

3. In your opinion, should there be a reallocation of base acres? If so, should it be mandatory? Provide reasoning for your opinion on base acre reallocation.

• Level One: Student provides their own opinion on the reallocation of base acres but does not state their stance on a mandatory reallocation and does not provide reasoning. 

• Level Two: Student provides their own opinion on the reallocation of base acres and gives at least one reason for their opinion. They provide their thoughts on whether or not reallocation should be mandatory.

• Level Three: Student provides their own opinion on the reallocation of base acres. They continue answering through providing their opinion on whether or not this reallocation should be mandatory for all farmers in the United States. Student provides at least two reasons for their opinion on base acre reallocation.