INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Farmers may be scratching their heads, wondering what to expect from the 2012 farm bill. Even those in close contact with the bill aren’t sure what to expect.

“We’re going to back into this thing with a number of dollars, but it’ll be like trimming a hand to fit a glove,” said Kent Yeager, director of Public Policy at Indiana Farm Bureau. “This marks the seventh farm bill I’ve had to deal with, and this one is the most unusual.

“The stunning thing is we’ve never had to deal with a farm bill quite like this one. No one has any realistic notion of what we may end up with. We’ll definitely be shooting in the dark.

“With this farm bill we have less money than in the past,” Yeager explained. “And how that money is allocated, no one really knows. Of particular interest to many is how this farm bill will affect the small producer. Programs with conservation involved with the farm bill will be of some advantage to small producers, but with expected cuts and less money to go around, it’s really hard to tell how the smaller producer will be affected. Right now, we cannot really tell how these small producers will be affected in the end.”

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act (better known as the farm bill) is quite complicated. This federally charged legislation will set the general direction for the nation’s food and farming policy. But USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack warns it will not bode good news for the small-scale producer.

Vilsack said the 2012 farm bill will cost taxpayers at least $23 billion less than the previous five-year farm bill; that carried a $288 billion price tag. The trim in budget could mean less for small operations.

“The farm bill is important to small-scale farmers and producers,” Vilsack told reporters at Bradley University in Illinois last week. “There will be a redesign of the safety net for farmers. You can expect changes in the direct payment system (to producers).”

According to Vilsack, there are three main components he and others are working on: maintaining a strong safety net, supporting sustainable productivity and promoting vibrant markets.

“The safety net for our farmers, ranchers and producers should protect them from devastating losses, either from a natural disaster or a significant and unexpected decline in prices,” he said. “With investments in research and conservation, the farm bill should support American producers, the most productive in the world, in their work to produce an affordable, quality product year after year. The bill should continue to promote vibrant, fair and diverse markets for farmers of all types and sizes to sell their products at home and abroad.

“But farmers aren’t alone in the need for a safety net. The farm bill also helps folks struggling through tough times to put food on the table, with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, an important bridge to self-sufficiency for working families.

“Finally, the farm bill legislation must address the needs of rural America. It should make USDA the best possible partner for businesses and Americans in rural communities looking to create jobs and provide a better quality of life for their families. And it should continue to support effort to develop a renewable industry that will improve income for farmers, drive rural economic growth and increase our national security,” Vilsack said.

He explained the legislation deals with many important aspects of life in America including, but not limited to, farming. “It’s about supporting the jobs of the future,” he said. “It’s about keeping pace with the changing needs of agriculture and rural America, and it’s about providing a safe and ample food supply for our nation. But it must begin with our responsibility to strengthen agriculture, a bright spot in today’s economy.

“The farm bill is about the future. If we stick to our priorities, we’ll help move our nation and our economy forward by creating jobs, supporting working families, strengthening rural communities and building on the incredible success and productivity of American agriculture. It’s more than a farm bill. It’s a jobs bill, a food bill and an environmental conservation bill.”

Some farm bill experts say there are three key areas in it that affect small-scale farmers: the next generation of farmers, local foods and land stewardship.

“If the farm bill doesn’t support new farmers, we are at risk of losing what it means to be an American, because we’re at the core of a rural, agricultural nation,” says Brett Olson, co-founder of Renewing the Countryside, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that helped launch the Young Organic Stewards program to support beginning farmers.

“With the average age of farmers now 65, we can’t wait until the next farm bill to put dollars behind these programs. The time is now.”

The production of local food has gotten a boost of sorts thanks to the upcoming farm bill. The Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act, another new piece of legislation that aims to improve the bill, creates a package of reforms and programs to encourage production of local food, not only by helping local farmers and ranchers become more profitable and productive but also by helping consumers buy locally through improved distribution systems.