Reps Lead Bipartisan Letter to Urge Mechanization, Automation in Farm Bill

Clint Thompson Farm Bill, Labor

Funding for specialty crop mechanization and automation research needs to be included in the farm bill. Representatives from multiple states issued a bipartisan letter in February urging the House Agriculture Committee to include federal financial support for mechanization and automation research in the next farm bill. Specialty crop producers have long struggled with labor challenges, relying heavily on the H-2A …

Specialty Crop Priorities for the Farm Bill

Web Admin Farm Bill, Specialty Crops

By Sabrina Halvorson Since the beginning of the year, the big question about the farm bill has been when it will get done. But specialty crop growers have said all along that there is no question about what needs to be done. AIMING FOR FAIR SHARE“We want to be treated equally,” said Rebeckah Adcock, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) vice …

Farm Bill Extension for One Year Likely Outcome

Web Admin Farm Bill, Legislative

An extension of the current farm bill could be agreed upon this week, meaning a new one will not be in place until, at the earliest, late next year. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, introduced a continuing resolution (CR) this weekend to address the budget uncertainty and avoid a looming government shutdown. Included was the provision to extend the …

GFVGA Optimistic New Farm Bill to be in Place Sooner Rather than Later

Web Admin Farm Bill, Georgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) remains optimistic that a new farm bill will be in place sooner rather than later. Even amid the delays with the election of a new Speaker of the House, Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA believes Mike Johnson’s election as the new speaker will help expedite the …

2024 Election Year Could Impact Farm Bill Finalization

Web Admin Farm Bill

By Clint Thompson More than a month has passed since the 2018 farm bill expired. A new one has yet to be finalized. An extension is expected by many within the industry. Specialty crop producers do not know when a new bill will be in place, especially since it will likely be dragged into 2024, which would have added significance …

Vilsack Speaks on Possible Extension to Farm Bill

Web Admin Farm Bill

By Clint Thompson The chances of an extension to the 2018 Farm Bill increases every day that legislative leaders fail to pass a new one. That is the outlook shared by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, who spoke on the subject last Tuesday. “Each day that goes by without a speaker, without a budget and without a Farm Bill, the likelihood …

SCFBA Co-Chair: When Are We Going to Get a Farm Bill?

Web Admin Farm Bill

By Clint Thompson Like other agriculture-based organizations across the country, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) is concerned about the current upheaval in Washington, D.C. The absence of a Speaker of the House has pushed back legislative issues like the next Farm Bill. It has created concern among specialty crop leaders about when one would actually be created, says …

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Endorses Legislation Addressing Nutrition, Organics

Web Admin Farm Bill, Legislative

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, endorsed nutrition and organic bills last week that cover key policy priorities outlined in the group’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations: “The U.S. specialty crop industry is …

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Endorses Legislation Addressing Nutrition and Organics 

Web Admin Farm Bill, Legislative, Specialty Crops

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has endorsed nutrition and organic bills that cover key policy priorities outlined in the group’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations:  “The U.S. specialty crop industry is crucial to our national …