WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) today applauds the leadership shown by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and the entire Senate Agriculture Committee to advance a new Farm Bill. The Committee’s proposed Farm Bill supports many of the critical priorities for specialty crops.
The SCFBA is pleased to see the proposed Farm Bill continues the important investments made in specialty crop programs through the 2008 Farm Bill. The Alliance urges the Committee to complete its work on the bill and pass this important legislation this week.
The 900-page Farm Bill proposal includes support for key specialty crop industry priorities such as research, pest and disease mitigation, trade, nutrition, and other programs that enhance the ability of specialty crop producers to be competitive and meet the needs of American consumers. The SCFBA believes the proposal put forth by the Senate Agriculture Committee is a critical step in maintaining the momentum begun in 2008.
The SCFBA applauds the broad, bi-partisan support shown by the Senate for advancing a new Farm Bill that addresses specialty crop needs. Earlier this month, 32 senators joined in a letter to Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts that called for continuing the progress on specialty crop programs in the next Farm Bill.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 120 organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. The alliance was established to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture and improve the health of Americans by broadening the scope of U.S. agricultural public policy. For more information, visit www.strongeragriculture.org.
Source: Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
