The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued a statement June 7 commending the efforts of the House Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee “to begin the process of creating a more comprehensive and equitable farm bill that addresses the needs of specialty crop producers,” but stressed that funding matters still need to be addressed. The subcommittee had forwarded its recommendations to the Agriculture Committee earlier that day.
The news release said that the title for the new farm bill approved by the subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), acknowledges several key priorities for the SCFBA including block grants, pest detection protections, food safety, transportation infrastructure, and returning agriculture quarantine inspection activities to USDA.

Unfortunately, the statement continues, the title does not include adequate funding for many of these initiatives and leaves several needs identified in H.R. 1600, the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (EAT Healthy America Act) unaddressed. SCFBA strongly supports H.R. 1600.

The release also emphasized that under stringent budget rules, the House Agriculture Committee has no ready funding for programs to address specialty crop needs. “SCFBA recognizes these parameters for new programs in the 2007 farm bill, but maintains that it is critical for Congress to find the funding for investment in specialty crops at this time.

“As so many have recognized, now is the time to begin the framework for bringing equity to farm policy that recognizes the importance of specialty crops to agriculture in all 50 states. The SCFBA will continue to work with the members of the agriculture committees in the House and the Senate and with the leadership of both parties to identify funding opportunities available for specialty crop producers,” the release said.

FFVA President Mike Stuart co-chairs the SCFBA.