ISSUE 1114
FFVA
PARTICIPATES IN FARM BILL PLANNING AT UNITED CONVENTION Produce industry
representatives from across the U.S. meet today (May 8) in Chicago to discuss
strategies for the 2007 farm bill. FFVA President Mike Stuart will represent Florida
grower interests at the meeting, being held in conjunction with the annual convention
of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. Over the past several months, FFVA has worked with key produce industry organizations to develop proposals for inclusion in the next farm bill, including initiatives on pest and disease programs, marketing and trade, conservation assistance and more. FFVA has already begun outreach to Florida's congressional delegation to enlist political support for these programs. "We
are seeking a more prominent position in the farm bill than in years past, including
significantly more mandatory spending," said Stuart. One
topic for the meeting: Slow progress in WTO agricultural trade talks has some
non-produce agricultural interests advocating an extension of current farm bill
programs for at least another year until trade issues are resolved. Such an extension
would, in effect, delay any chance for adoption of much-needed programs for the
fruit and vegetable industry. ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP (Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.) | |
