The introduction of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 in the U.S. House of Representatives has drawn support from specialty crop leaders and other farm groups.
“The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance appreciates the work of House Agriculture Committee Chairman [Glenn] Thompson and others for moving the farm bill process forward and for recognizing the importance of specialty crops with several key investments, including for research, innovation, crop insurance and trade,” the group said in a statement. “Investments like these are vital to maintaining and enhancing the competitiveness of our growers across the U.S. and to support a healthier America. It is critical they appear in the final conference report.”
The group said it continues to assess the impact on specialty crops that may result from changes to the Commodity Credit Corporation and the Thrifty Food Program.
“We know the only path forward for a farm bill this Congress is a bipartisan one and are hopeful that leads negotiators in the House and Senate will come together to resolve any disagreements in time for a five-year farm bill to be signed into law by the president this year,” the alliance said.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products.
In 2023, the alliance released a set of key policy priorities as part of its farm bill recommendations.
The American Farm Bureau Federation released a statement expressing appreciation for the work of the House Agriculture Committee.
“We look forward to taking a deep dive into the House farm bill draft in advance of next week’s markup,” said Zippy Duval, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We hope to see the Senate Agriculture Committee’s version soon so we can move forward with getting the farm bill passed. It’s too important to wait. America’s families are counting on Congress to get this done.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters he was concerned about the proposed House bill, which he said endangers the coalition between nutrition program advocates and farm program supporters. The proposal in the House, he said, could be a route to an impasse and create further delays in the passage of a new farm bill.
The 2018 farm bill has been extended through Sept. 30.
— The Packer’s Christina Herrick contributed to this report.
