September 24, 2007

ISSUE 1185

SENATORS REQUEST FUNDING FOR SPECIALTY CROPS

The list of senators reported in the Sep. 17 Rap-Up who are pushing for increased funding for specialty crops in the 2007 Farm Bill almost doubled in the past week.
Over one-third of the Senate sent a letter Sept. 19 to Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss asking them to significantly ramp up funding for specialty crop priorities in the legislation. Signed by 36 senators, the letter urged committee leaders to double the mandatory funding for specialty crops in the House-passed version of the farm bill to $3.2 billion.

Also last week, a group of Florida agricultural leaders met with Sens. Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez to stress the critical importance of the farm bill to the state’s farmers and ranchers. The group, which included FFVA President Mike Stuart, asked both senators to be actively engaged in the farm bill process and to resist any efforts to extend the 2002 legislation into 2008 and beyond. Both have signed on to the specialty crop letter. It is hoped that a committee mark-up of the bill will take place within the next couple of weeks.

SENATORS REQUEST FUNDING FOR SPECIALTY CROPS

AG SECRETARY JOHANNS RESIGNS

NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

BENEFIT AUCTION RAISES $43,000 FOR RCMA

GOV. CRIST PROPOSES RAISING CITRUS SERVICE CHARGE

CITRUS GREENING CONFIRMED IN POLK COUNTY

UF/IFAS TO HOLD AG WORKSHOPS