Specialty crops big winners in farm bill proposal
Specialty crops big winners in farm bill proposal
WASHINGTON -- Specialty crop producers hailed the Bush administration's new farm bill proposal, saying it would significantly expand nutrition and key market promotion programs and call for new spending of $5 billion over 10 years to help growers.
"The specialty crop growers across the country are appreciative of USDA for taking important first steps to address the needs of specialty crop producers as they work to improve the competitiveness of our industry," said Mike Stuart, president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.
Mr. Stuart said the Jan. 31 proposal shows that USDA heard the message of specialty crop growers during the farm bill listening sessions, calling for more investments in research, nutrition, promotion, conservation, market access, and pest and disease management.
Secredtary of Agriculture Mike Johanns unveiled the proposal at a press conference, saying, "I have to tell you, I think our proposals in the specialty crop area will be very, very well-received because it hits all the issues they talked about - research, phytosanitary, sanitary, market promotion, and purchases of fruits and vegetables to improve the nutritional quality of some of the programs we have."
The proposal pointed to the disparity between subsidized commodity program crops, five of which receive more than 90 percent of the funding, and specialty crops, which now equal the value of program crops.
But advocates for subsidized crops are already wary of the proposal, which would cut $1.5 billion in U.S. support over 10 years, maintaining that the bill would put a hole in the safety net of the nation's largest farmers. The American Farm Bureau and other groups, which said they are still studying the new proposal, have concerns that it may damage the competitiveness of U.S. farmers.
The proposal can only be viewed as a boon for fruit and vegetable growers. On the nutrition side, Secretary Johanns said that the bill provides $2.75 billion in additional fruit and vegetable purchases for distribution in food assistance programs. "We'll increase funding by $500 million for schools to buy fruits and vegetables," he said.
In research funding, Secretary Johanns said that the 2007 farm bill would provide an additional $1 billion for specialty crops research. "One of the things we heard from our specialty crop farmers is, 'We need help in this research area.'"
During the 52 farm bill forums, Secretary Johanns heard the same message about disparity from specialty crop producers who made a compelling case for a more equitable share in the next farm bill, often requesting an increase in market access efforts, said the proposal.
To boost the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops grant program, the new farm bill would earmark $68 million and increase the maximum payment to $500,000 per project over 10 years to help fruits and vegetables with trade barriers. The current caps on these grants are $250,000 per project and that can limit the grants' effectiveness.
Another key program for specialty crop growers is the Market Access Program, and the new farm bill proposal would increase annual funding to $225 million from $200 million. In addition, organic agriculture would be allowed to compete for MAP funding and help develop the organic export market.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said it is ready to work with USDA and Congress to craft the new agriculture policy.
"The specialty crop growers across the country are appreciative of USDA for taking important first steps to address the needs of specialty crop producers as they work to improve the competitiveness of our industry," said Mike Stuart, president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.
Mr. Stuart said the Jan. 31 proposal shows that USDA heard the message of specialty crop growers during the farm bill listening sessions, calling for more investments in research, nutrition, promotion, conservation, market access, and pest and disease management.
Secredtary of Agriculture Mike Johanns unveiled the proposal at a press conference, saying, "I have to tell you, I think our proposals in the specialty crop area will be very, very well-received because it hits all the issues they talked about - research, phytosanitary, sanitary, market promotion, and purchases of fruits and vegetables to improve the nutritional quality of some of the programs we have."
The proposal pointed to the disparity between subsidized commodity program crops, five of which receive more than 90 percent of the funding, and specialty crops, which now equal the value of program crops.
But advocates for subsidized crops are already wary of the proposal, which would cut $1.5 billion in U.S. support over 10 years, maintaining that the bill would put a hole in the safety net of the nation's largest farmers. The American Farm Bureau and other groups, which said they are still studying the new proposal, have concerns that it may damage the competitiveness of U.S. farmers.
The proposal can only be viewed as a boon for fruit and vegetable growers. On the nutrition side, Secretary Johanns said that the bill provides $2.75 billion in additional fruit and vegetable purchases for distribution in food assistance programs. "We'll increase funding by $500 million for schools to buy fruits and vegetables," he said.
In research funding, Secretary Johanns said that the 2007 farm bill would provide an additional $1 billion for specialty crops research. "One of the things we heard from our specialty crop farmers is, 'We need help in this research area.'"
During the 52 farm bill forums, Secretary Johanns heard the same message about disparity from specialty crop producers who made a compelling case for a more equitable share in the next farm bill, often requesting an increase in market access efforts, said the proposal.
To boost the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops grant program, the new farm bill would earmark $68 million and increase the maximum payment to $500,000 per project over 10 years to help fruits and vegetables with trade barriers. The current caps on these grants are $250,000 per project and that can limit the grants' effectiveness.
Another key program for specialty crop growers is the Market Access Program, and the new farm bill proposal would increase annual funding to $225 million from $200 million. In addition, organic agriculture would be allowed to compete for MAP funding and help develop the organic export market.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said it is ready to work with USDA and Congress to craft the new agriculture policy.
