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- Industry Hopes Provisions Remain
Intact in Final Farm Bill
- Whether produce industry issues appear in the final Farm Bill remains to be seen. The conference committee on the next Farm Bill could finish in a few weeks, or could last up to three months.
The U.S. Senate version of the Farm Bill still did not have a score (total cost) in early March, according to John Keeling, executive director of the National Potato Council. The lack of a total cost delays the process, but that hasn’t stopped congressional staff from starting their work.
“The congressional staff members have been meeting to go over items in the bill that are in agreement,” said Keeling. The delay in starting official conference committee work on the final bill is partly due to the flurry of additions tacked on to the final bill. On the last day of senate debate 139 amendments were added to the Farm Bill, said Keeling.
Despite the wait, grower groups were excited that the Senate version had passed with produce initiatives intact. In mid-February, the Senate passed S.1731, Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2002 by a vote of 58-40. The legislation will dictate farm policy in the next decade.
Major produce provisions included in the Senate Farm Bill include specialty crop purchases totaling $580 million, domestic promotion programs totaling $120 million, a pilot program promoting free fruit and vegetables in select schools, country-of-origin labeling, and extension of the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).
Congress is scheduled to convene a conference committee between the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) said that passage of a Senate Farm Bill should signal immediate work to begin on reconciling House and Senate versions with sights on the 2002 crop year.
“Producers across the country are justifiably anxious for a new Farm Bill, and the House Agriculture Committee will begin immediate work to have a final House-Senate bill for the 2002 crop year,” said Combest. “Much work in preparation has been well underway in order to promptly move House and Senate toward a well-balanced, good Farm Bill.”
According to United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association (United), the Senate’s bill is a sign that Congress has recognized the need to incorporate produce industry priorities. The Senate’s version of the Farm Bill includes approximately $1 billion in funding for the fresh fruits and vegetable industry.
“We are pleased that another step has been taken to complete work on this important legislation and move the process into the next stage of legislative consideration,” said Robert Guenther, United’s vice president of government and public affairs. “There continues to be a tremendous amount of work which must be accomplished in order to see real benefits from this Farm Bill,” said Guenther.
“Now is the time for the produce industry and those in Congress who represent key fruit and vegetable regions of the country to pull together and ensure that as a major contributor to the economic vitality of the U.S. agriculture community, our priorities are secured,” said Guenther.
Major provisions included in the Senate Farm Bill include:
Emergency ag assistance
An emergency agriculture assistance amendment to the Farm Bill that could provide the nation’s apple growers with $100 million in direct ad-hoc assistance.
TAP extended
Fruit tree growers will be relieved to know about the extension of TAP to cover retroactive losses up to $100,000 per person after Jan. 1, 2000.
Specialty crop purchases
Beginning in FY 2002, $100 million will be used to purchase specialty crops for federal nutrition programs. This funding will be increased up to $170 million in FY 2006. Out of this funding, at least $50 million per year must be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The total direct funding for this purchase program will be $580 million.
Domestic promotion program
According to United, $125 million has been allocated to a fruit and vegetable domestic promotion program, which will be used to carry out demonstration projects to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This will be a cost-share program and will target 15 states in which the production of fruits and vegetables is a significant industry.
Free fruits and vegetables
A pilot program, which includes 25 elementary or secondary schools from four states, will make free fruits and vegetables available to all students throughout the school day.
Inspection services elimination
The Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Service provision could be eliminated, a provision that would have restricted funding, was stripped from the bill allowing for an additional $100 million per year to be dedicated for federal and state pest and disease exclusion activities.
Country-of -origin labeling
A provision allowing for country-of-origin labeling for fruits and vegetables was retained after being stripped earlier in the week.
Food Stamp Program
A food stamp double coupon for fruits and vegetables program, a new pilot program, will allow for the expansion of incentives under the Food Stamp Program, which will encourage increased fruit and vegetable consumption.
Limited subsidies
The Senate posted limits on the amount of crop subsidies any single farm operator can receive at $275,000; the House version stands at $550,000. The Senate also voted to bar absentee landowners from receiving payments, and removes all farmers who have incomes of $2.5 million for three years running.
Both the House and Senate bills include provisions supporting the industry’s Farm Bill Working Group, which advocated policies that promote the consumption and demand of fruits and vegetables, according to United. The group developed over 50 policy recommendations that were supported by the entire fresh fruit and vegetable industry and were presented to House and Senate last year.
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