Specialty crop growers anxiously wait for farm bill deal
Specialty crop growers anxiously wait for farm bill deal
WASHINGTON -- Budget haggling over the 2007 farm bill continues as Congress has until March 15 to reach agreement on a historic bill shaped for the first time by fruit and vegetable growers.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said that his top priority in the remaining months in office is to deliver a farm bill that President Bush can proudly sign. "That means a bill that preserves a strong safety net for producers, and achieves real reforms in farm policy, and it does it without imposing new taxes on the American citizens," he said at the 2008 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Much needs to be done as top budget leaders continue negotiating a final price tag -- perhaps $10 billion over the baseline.
"We're in waiting mode," said Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
Budget leaders have to first identify an acceptable number over the baseline before negotiations can begin. A letter signed by 100 House and Senate members urged Agriculture Committee leaders earlier this month to maintain strong funding for specialty crop programs.
"It's been a monumental effort, and we're coming close to the wire on this," said Mr. Stuart.
Specialty crop programs are "alive and kicking" in the bill, said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association, who said that Congress may need to approve a short-term extension to allow lawmakers more time to negotiate after the current farm bill expires March 15.
Mr. Guenther said that the industry will be watching how Congress plans to offset cuts from the current bills, such as the impact on the school snack program, pest and disease research, marketing programs and planting flexibility provisions.
A spokesman for Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) said the congressman expects to be named to the conference committee that irons out differences between the House and Senate bills.
"As a conferee, he will advocate for the historic funding levels" for specialty crop programs, said the spokesman for Rep. Cardoza.
Specialty crop businesses view the 2007 farm bill as a significant step in helping industry response to many challenges, said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh, who spoke at the Feb. 21 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
"The fruit and vegetable industry does not want direct support for our growers; we don't want price protection. I'm not even sure we want a safety net," Mr. Stenzel said.
But with nearly $100 million in the farm bill's specialty crop block grant program, Mr. Stenzel said that the industry can develop greater mechanization and labor-saving practices, adopt new technologies such as drip irrigation and new food-safety techniques, and invest in developing new conveniently packaged products.
When the dust settles, Mr. Guenther said that another success story from the 2007 farm bill negotiations will be the industry's new congressional allies in urban and suburban districts that favor fruit and vegetable programs to boost nutrition and fight obesity.
"We've been successful in galvanizing a significant block of House and Senate members that think specialty crops are important," said Mr. Guenther.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said that his top priority in the remaining months in office is to deliver a farm bill that President Bush can proudly sign. "That means a bill that preserves a strong safety net for producers, and achieves real reforms in farm policy, and it does it without imposing new taxes on the American citizens," he said at the 2008 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Much needs to be done as top budget leaders continue negotiating a final price tag -- perhaps $10 billion over the baseline.
"We're in waiting mode," said Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
Budget leaders have to first identify an acceptable number over the baseline before negotiations can begin. A letter signed by 100 House and Senate members urged Agriculture Committee leaders earlier this month to maintain strong funding for specialty crop programs.
"It's been a monumental effort, and we're coming close to the wire on this," said Mr. Stuart.
Specialty crop programs are "alive and kicking" in the bill, said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association, who said that Congress may need to approve a short-term extension to allow lawmakers more time to negotiate after the current farm bill expires March 15.
Mr. Guenther said that the industry will be watching how Congress plans to offset cuts from the current bills, such as the impact on the school snack program, pest and disease research, marketing programs and planting flexibility provisions.
A spokesman for Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) said the congressman expects to be named to the conference committee that irons out differences between the House and Senate bills.
"As a conferee, he will advocate for the historic funding levels" for specialty crop programs, said the spokesman for Rep. Cardoza.
Specialty crop businesses view the 2007 farm bill as a significant step in helping industry response to many challenges, said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh, who spoke at the Feb. 21 Agricultural Outlook Forum.
"The fruit and vegetable industry does not want direct support for our growers; we don't want price protection. I'm not even sure we want a safety net," Mr. Stenzel said.
But with nearly $100 million in the farm bill's specialty crop block grant program, Mr. Stenzel said that the industry can develop greater mechanization and labor-saving practices, adopt new technologies such as drip irrigation and new food-safety techniques, and invest in developing new conveniently packaged products.
When the dust settles, Mr. Guenther said that another success story from the 2007 farm bill negotiations will be the industry's new congressional allies in urban and suburban districts that favor fruit and vegetable programs to boost nutrition and fight obesity.
"We've been successful in galvanizing a significant block of House and Senate members that think specialty crops are important," said Mr. Guenther.
