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April 21, 2008

ISSUE 1215

FARM BILL FUNDING STILL UP IN THE AIR

Farm bill negotiators continue to trade ideas as to how to pay for extra spending in the farm bill. House conferees rejected a Senate plan April 17 to add $2.5 billion in tax credits for land conservation and alternative energy, when they couldn’t agree to how to fund the plan.

The Senate plan would add an extra $10 billion above the farm bill’s $560 billion baseline. House lawmakers proposed a counteroffer of $9.5 billion in spending above the baseline.

In an effort to continue to keep the interests of specialty crop producers in the forefront, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance delivered two letters April 14 to House and Senate leaders encouraging them to pass a farm bill this Congress, and to ensure that the bill they pass is equitable and representative of all American agriculture, specifically specialty crops.

One letter was sent to House leadership and to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees. The other letter was sent to the Senate leadership, as well as to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Agriculture and Finance Committees.

In part, the letters said that “although, for the first time, the House and Senate passed versions of the bill recognizing the priorities of specialty crop producer in an equitable fashion, a continued stalemate, long-term extension or even reverting back to the statute would curtail important policy and funding progress that has been dedicated to critical specialty crop, pest and disease, nutrition, research and conservation priorities.”

Meanwhile, both the House and Senate agreed to extend the negotiations for one week, but the Bush administration said it will not agree to any extension unless substantial progress has been made.

If the president refuses to sign the extension, the 2002 law would default to the permanent farm bill, created in the 1940s.
 

ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP

(Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.)

TOMATO EXCHANGE’S REGGIE BROWN REBUTS SLAVERY CHARGES

FARM BILL FUNDING STILL UP IN THE AIR

BABCOCK RANCH CONTROVERSY FUELS MOVEMENT TO PURCHASE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS

DADE COUNTY FARM BUREAU SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SPECIALTY CROP GRANT FUNDS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FDACS AND FNGLA

PRODUCER MEMBERS - PLEASE HELP FFVA’S FUTURE EFFORTS BY RETURNING SURVEY
   
  

©2008 Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

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