Gordon Johnson, Extension Ag Agent, Kent Co.; gcjohn@udel.edu
The farm bill was just passed by the US Congress. The bill will likely be vetoed by President Bush but there should be enough votes to override the veto. There are a number of provisions that will affect vegetable and fruit growers. The following is a summary of those provisions from the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
The Farm Bill as passed:
Expands Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops
This program provides financial assistance to producers and exporters of specialty crops in addressing technical and sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers against their products in overseas markets. Funding for the program is increased from the current level of $2 million annually to $9 million annually by 2012.
Provides More Fresh Fruits and Vegetables to School Children
The bill includes a tremendous expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income children in schools. Over the next ten years, $1 billion is invested in this initiative, which will allow it to serve as many as 3 million low-income children.
Supports Marketing Locally Produced Agricultural Products
The aggregation and wholesaling of locally grown food is specified as a priority for the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program. Support to marketing locally produced agricultural products is also made an allowable use for the Value Added Product Market Development Grant Program.
Expands the Farm Labor Housing Program
This program, which provides low interest loans or grants for the construction and improvement of housing for farm labor, is expanded to assist housing for low income employees in agricultural processing.
Strengthens Organic Agriculture Research and Extension
The bill provides $78 million in mandatory funds for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative, which enhances the ability of organic producers and processors to grow and market organic food, feed and fiber.
Boosts Specialty Crop Research
The bill provides $230 million in mandatory funds for a new grants program, the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which will help meet the needs of producers and processors of specialty crops involving mechanization, plant breeding, genetics, genomics, pests and diseases and food safety.
Supports Growth of Farmers’ Markets
Farmers’ markets are a hugely important opportunity for farmers to market and consumers to obtain fresh, local, healthy foods. The bill provides a $33 million boost in mandatory funding to develop and expand farmers markets across the country.
Expands Organic Transition
Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing sectors of American agriculture, but many producers face challenges as they try to transition to organic production. To assist these producers, $22 million in mandatory funding is provided for the next five years – an increase of $17 million from the last farm bill.
Requires USDA Organic Data Collection
Comprehensive reporting of prices is a critical marketing tool for producers, as well as for USDA in determining appropriate crop insurance policies for commodities, yet this information is significantly lacking in the organic sector. The bill invests $5 million in an organic data collection initiative to help provide USDA and organic producers with national production and market data.
Expands Specialty Crop Block Grants
The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program provides funds to state departments of agriculture for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of United States specialty crops in areas such as marketing, promotion, education, research, trade and nutrition. The farm bill provides a significant investment in this program of $466 million over the next ten years.
Creates and Funds a New Plant Pest and Disease Initiative
Invasive species – such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter – pose a significant risk to U.S. agriculture. The farm bill provides $377 million over the next ten years for a new Pest and Disease Program which will provide funding to state departments of agriculture that develop a cooperative agreement with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for the purpose of combating invasive species and other threats to plant health.