Demand Congress pass a Farm Bill this year

According to SAF, Congress has come back to D.C. to work for only 17 days this year. They're urging all growers to contact Congress and get a Farm Bill passed this year.

Elements of the farm bill provide special and valuable programs for the floral and nursery industry, defined as “specialty crops” by the USDA.

“The Farm Bill’s research, pest and disease control, and marketing assistance programs alone provide millions of dollars of important annual funding for specialty crops – research on all of that is at risk,” says SAF’s senior directory of government relations Lin Schmale.

These essential programs are included in the Farm Bill passed by the Senate, and now require action in the House of Representatives:
•    $70 million annual investment for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program
•    $50 million in funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative
•    $71.5 million for pest and disease management program
•    Potential “Main Street” loan help for businesses in rural communities

Tell your Congressman to pass and complete action on the Farm Bill before Congress adjourns for the year.
Demand that the House of Representatives vote on the 2012 Farm Bill now. To strengthen the industry’s voice encourage your colleagues and customers also to take action.

Need help finding your Congressman? Go here: www.safnow.org/write-to-congress

Source: SAF