INCREASED FUNDING FOR SPECIALTY CROPS GAINING MOMENTUM IN SENATE

A bipartisan group of senators have signed on to a letter to Senate leaders requesting that specialty crop priorities be included in the 2007 Farm Bill. The letter, which is being circulated by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), seeks an additional $1.6 billion in mandatory funding above the amount contained in the House-passed version of the bill. Sen. Stabenow’s staff members have secured signatures from at least 20 senators as of Rap-Up deadline including Bill Nelson of Florida. The letter will be sent to Sens. Reid, McConnell, Harkin, Chambliss, Baucus and Grassley and should be finalized by Sept. 19. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, co-chaired by FFVA President Mike Stuart, is assisting in efforts to obtain additional signatures before that date. In other farm bill developments, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) issued a news release Sept. 11 saying he intends to introduce an agricultural tax package that would, through tax credits and bonds, include priorities such as rural development, energy, conservation and a permanent disaster program.

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