Senate committee passes farm bill; includes record funding for specialty crops
Senate committee passes farm bill; includes record funding for specialty crops
WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee approved its version of the 2007 farm bill with an estimated $3 billion for specialty crop programs, nearly doubling the funding amount approved in the House.
The farm bill, which is expected to reach the Senate floor in the next two weeks, also contains the House-passed compromise agreement that paves the way for country-of-origin labeling for meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
"There are significant achievements in this bill," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee that marked up the 2007 farm bill on Oct. 25. The House passed its version this past summer that included $1.6 billion in mandatory spending for fresh produce through larger marketing, research and nutrition programs.
"The bill greatly increases assistance to growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops," said Sen. Harkin, adding that the bill expands the popular Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program which reaches nearly 4.5 million children in elementary schools nationwide.
"We're obviously very happy the process is moving forward," said Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association, adding that representatives of specialty crop groups were still tallying the final numbers. One thing is certain, he said -- the bill will have a "significant impact" on fresh fruit and vegetable businesses by supplying mandatory funds for programs aimed at market access, food safety research and conservation.
While announcing the $3 billion price tag, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said she was proud that the farm bill for the first time will include a subtitle on specialty crops. "This is a big win for Michigan growers and producers," she said. "For too long, the farm bill has not included proper support for this important agricultural sector."
The five-year bill would fund a host of programs, including $270 million for state specialty crop block grants, $200 million for pest and disease prevention, $120 million for tree removal assistance, $94 million for the Market Access Program, $80 million for specialty crop research, $20 million for a National Clean Plant Network for nurseries, $19 million for trade assistance, $27 million for organic crops, $15 million for domestic asparagus producers, $30 million for farmers markets, and $1.1 billion for the school snack program.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the committee for including her legislation that would authorize up to $100 million for honey bee research plus $200 million to boost pest detection and surveillance through cooperative agreements with the states.
The Organic Trade Association also hailed the advances in strengthening the safety net for organic producers and manufacturers. "These measures include funding for organic research, data collection and transition to organic production," said Caren Wilcox, executive director of the association.
But one issue absent in the bill so far is AgJOBs, a compromise measure that could ease the labor crisis for farmers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV) said he favored attaching the bill to the farm bill when it reaches the Senate floor, but Sen. Harkin said he opposed any amendment that deals with immigration. "This is not the place for it," he told reporters Oct. 25. Immigration should be dealt with at a different time, he added.
Mr. Harkin's $286 billion bill, which continues the traditional crop subsidy program, adds a permanent disaster fund and increases money for conservation and nutrition programs, is likely to be the target of amendments on the Senate floor and a veto threat by President Bush.
Sens. Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced plans to challenge the farm bill by offering an amendment to reduce the direct payments that go to certain farmers of cotton, rice, wheat, corn and soybeans and replace it with the crop insurance program that is available to all farmers. It would "reform legislation that would provide a true safety net for all farmers, regardless of what they grow or where they live," said Mr. Lugar.
The Indiana senator added that the current subsidy program has "spurred farm consolidation, violated international trade agreements and still left most farmers heavily exposed to risk." The amendment, which will be offered on the Senate floor, would provide $3 billion for specialty crop programs and allow fruit and vegetable growers to obtain whole crop insurance coverage.
The farm bill, which is expected to reach the Senate floor in the next two weeks, also contains the House-passed compromise agreement that paves the way for country-of-origin labeling for meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
"There are significant achievements in this bill," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee that marked up the 2007 farm bill on Oct. 25. The House passed its version this past summer that included $1.6 billion in mandatory spending for fresh produce through larger marketing, research and nutrition programs.
"The bill greatly increases assistance to growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops," said Sen. Harkin, adding that the bill expands the popular Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program which reaches nearly 4.5 million children in elementary schools nationwide.
"We're obviously very happy the process is moving forward," said Robert Guenther of the United Fresh Produce Association, adding that representatives of specialty crop groups were still tallying the final numbers. One thing is certain, he said -- the bill will have a "significant impact" on fresh fruit and vegetable businesses by supplying mandatory funds for programs aimed at market access, food safety research and conservation.
While announcing the $3 billion price tag, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said she was proud that the farm bill for the first time will include a subtitle on specialty crops. "This is a big win for Michigan growers and producers," she said. "For too long, the farm bill has not included proper support for this important agricultural sector."
The five-year bill would fund a host of programs, including $270 million for state specialty crop block grants, $200 million for pest and disease prevention, $120 million for tree removal assistance, $94 million for the Market Access Program, $80 million for specialty crop research, $20 million for a National Clean Plant Network for nurseries, $19 million for trade assistance, $27 million for organic crops, $15 million for domestic asparagus producers, $30 million for farmers markets, and $1.1 billion for the school snack program.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the committee for including her legislation that would authorize up to $100 million for honey bee research plus $200 million to boost pest detection and surveillance through cooperative agreements with the states.
The Organic Trade Association also hailed the advances in strengthening the safety net for organic producers and manufacturers. "These measures include funding for organic research, data collection and transition to organic production," said Caren Wilcox, executive director of the association.
But one issue absent in the bill so far is AgJOBs, a compromise measure that could ease the labor crisis for farmers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV) said he favored attaching the bill to the farm bill when it reaches the Senate floor, but Sen. Harkin said he opposed any amendment that deals with immigration. "This is not the place for it," he told reporters Oct. 25. Immigration should be dealt with at a different time, he added.
Mr. Harkin's $286 billion bill, which continues the traditional crop subsidy program, adds a permanent disaster fund and increases money for conservation and nutrition programs, is likely to be the target of amendments on the Senate floor and a veto threat by President Bush.
Sens. Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced plans to challenge the farm bill by offering an amendment to reduce the direct payments that go to certain farmers of cotton, rice, wheat, corn and soybeans and replace it with the crop insurance program that is available to all farmers. It would "reform legislation that would provide a true safety net for all farmers, regardless of what they grow or where they live," said Mr. Lugar.
The Indiana senator added that the current subsidy program has "spurred farm consolidation, violated international trade agreements and still left most farmers heavily exposed to risk." The amendment, which will be offered on the Senate floor, would provide $3 billion for specialty crop programs and allow fruit and vegetable growers to obtain whole crop insurance coverage.
