WASHINGTON, D.C – By a vote of 68 – 32, the United States Senate took final action on the conference report to the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which comprises 120 specialty crop organizations and 350 individual specialty crops grown across America, made the following statement regarding the Senate action:
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance congratulates the Senate for a strong bi-partisan vote today in passing the 2014 Farm Bill. We want to especially applaud the leadership of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Thad Cochran along with their counterparts in the House for the work they have put into this historic legislation over the last 4 years.
The Farm Bill conference report includes an overall increase in investment of 55 percent over 2008 Farm Bill funding levels in critical specialty crop initiatives and programs, including the State Block Grant Program, Specialty Research Initiative, a new fruit and vegetable incentive grant program for SNAP recipients, the pest and disease prevention program along with maintaining funding in the Market Access Program and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. In short, this legislation represents the most significant government investment ever into the competitiveness of specialty crop producers and industry members.
We look forward to this legislation being sent to the President and becoming law in the very near future.”
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: The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance