Dairy price support was to be phased down for milk over 4 years and then eliminated, but subsequent legislation continued this program.

Trade and food aid programs were reoriented toward greater market development, with increased emphasis on high-value and value-added products.

The 1996 Act authorized new enrollments in the Conservation Reserve Program to maintain total acreage at up to 36,400,000 acres (147,000 km2).

The Act also contained numerous provisions in the areas of farm credit, rural development, and generic commodity promotion through check-off programs, among others.

Provisions in annual USDA appropriations laws since 1996 have prohibited the department from actually establishing the advisory panel.