ANLA addresses Senate on Farm Bill

By Joe Bischoff, ANLA's director of government relations

This week, ANLA and 41 partner associations submitted a letter to members of the U.S. Senate urging that they pass Senate bill S.954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (2013 Farm Bill). The letter highlights the importance of our industry to U.S. agriculture and the specialty crop provisions that improve the competitiveness of our industry’s crops.

The Senate is expected to close debate and vote on the bill before week’s end. However, while the Farm Bill is still in motion an eye must be kept on amendments that could negatively impact the specialty crop programs. One particularly amendment of concern was offered by Senator Coburn (R) of Oklahoma (Amendment 1006). It would reduce the funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBGs) from the proposed $70 million to $55 million. In addition, it would it would prohibit funds from being used to “promote, produce, or otherwise support crops that are ornamental in nature.”

ANLA’s opposition to the amendment was communicated through a Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance letter that was sent to the Senate last week. If the amendment is cleared for a vote – which we should know this week – ANLA will take additional steps to prevent amendment 1006 from becoming part of the final law. Read the full letter and list of signers here.