Senate approves farm bill with new specialty crop funding
Senate approves farm bill with new specialty crop funding
WASHINGTON -- After the measure seemed hopelessly stalled, the Senate passed the 2007 farm bill Dec. 14, which will benefit fruit and vegetable growers, not in direct subsidies but in new funding for marketing, research and nutrition programs.
"After months of negotiations, we were able to work within a very strict budget allocation to complete our work and pass a farm bill that is good for agriculture, good for rural areas and good for the health of Americans," Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said Dec. 14.
The Senate passed the bill by a 79-14 vote after the bill was stalled for weeks over wrangling on the number of amendments the Senate would consider. Now both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed the 2007 farm bill, but the differences between the House and Senate versions still need to be worked out, and President Bush has threatened to veto it.
"Today's action by the U.S. Senate represents another victory in recognizing the importance of specialty crops in national farm policy," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy. "This farm bill will bolster the competitive standing of our industry in today's global marketplace, and help launch the next generation of children on a lifetime of healthier eating."
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance credited key lawmakers for shepherding the bill that for the first time includes a new specialty crops subtitle in the five-year, $286 billion measure.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), one of the group's advocates, hailed the Senate-passed measure for approving over $3 billion to fund specialty crops provisions. The bill includes new money to expand the Fruit & Vegetable School Snack Program, extend the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Program, boost funds in food safety and disease prevention research, and enhance market access initiatives.
The bill is also viewed as a boon for organic producers, according to Caren Wilcox, executive director of the Organic Trade Association.
"The Senate farm bill includes important steps to help strengthen the safety net for organic producers and manufacturers," she said. "These measures include funding for organic research, data collection and transition to organic production, as well as eliminating the crop insurance premium for organic producers."
But Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner called the bill "fundamentally flawed" because it was financed through "$22 billion in unfunded commitments and budget gimmicks, and includes $15 billion in new taxes -- the first time a farm bill has relied on tax increases since 1933."
One issue that was expected to come up during the farm bill debate on the Senate floor appears to have been resolved through high-level discussions. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced that she had secured an agreement with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to reform the agriculture inspections program. Specialty crop businesses have raised concerns that there have been fewer agriculture inspections at U.S. ports since DHS took over the program in 2003.
"I have been assured by Secretary Chertoff that the agriculture inspectors' time will no longer be used for anything other than agriculture inspection," said Sen. Feinstein. "Ag inspectors perform specialized duties that will now be recognized as a primary function at the Department of Homeland Security."
Secretary Chertoff agreed to send two memos to all of DHS' Customs & Border Protection field office employees reaffirming the importance of policing foreign plant and animal diseases and announcing a new position charged with ensuring consistency of policies across all points of entry.
"I will be watching closely to make sure that agriculture inspections become a priority at the Department of Homeland Security and that the necessary changes are implemented," said Sen. Feinstein.
"After months of negotiations, we were able to work within a very strict budget allocation to complete our work and pass a farm bill that is good for agriculture, good for rural areas and good for the health of Americans," Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said Dec. 14.
The Senate passed the bill by a 79-14 vote after the bill was stalled for weeks over wrangling on the number of amendments the Senate would consider. Now both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed the 2007 farm bill, but the differences between the House and Senate versions still need to be worked out, and President Bush has threatened to veto it.
"Today's action by the U.S. Senate represents another victory in recognizing the importance of specialty crops in national farm policy," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association's senior vice president of public policy. "This farm bill will bolster the competitive standing of our industry in today's global marketplace, and help launch the next generation of children on a lifetime of healthier eating."
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance credited key lawmakers for shepherding the bill that for the first time includes a new specialty crops subtitle in the five-year, $286 billion measure.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), one of the group's advocates, hailed the Senate-passed measure for approving over $3 billion to fund specialty crops provisions. The bill includes new money to expand the Fruit & Vegetable School Snack Program, extend the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Program, boost funds in food safety and disease prevention research, and enhance market access initiatives.
The bill is also viewed as a boon for organic producers, according to Caren Wilcox, executive director of the Organic Trade Association.
"The Senate farm bill includes important steps to help strengthen the safety net for organic producers and manufacturers," she said. "These measures include funding for organic research, data collection and transition to organic production, as well as eliminating the crop insurance premium for organic producers."
But Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner called the bill "fundamentally flawed" because it was financed through "$22 billion in unfunded commitments and budget gimmicks, and includes $15 billion in new taxes -- the first time a farm bill has relied on tax increases since 1933."
One issue that was expected to come up during the farm bill debate on the Senate floor appears to have been resolved through high-level discussions. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced that she had secured an agreement with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to reform the agriculture inspections program. Specialty crop businesses have raised concerns that there have been fewer agriculture inspections at U.S. ports since DHS took over the program in 2003.
"I have been assured by Secretary Chertoff that the agriculture inspectors' time will no longer be used for anything other than agriculture inspection," said Sen. Feinstein. "Ag inspectors perform specialized duties that will now be recognized as a primary function at the Department of Homeland Security."
Secretary Chertoff agreed to send two memos to all of DHS' Customs & Border Protection field office employees reaffirming the importance of policing foreign plant and animal diseases and announcing a new position charged with ensuring consistency of policies across all points of entry.
"I will be watching closely to make sure that agriculture inspections become a priority at the Department of Homeland Security and that the necessary changes are implemented," said Sen. Feinstein.
