In preparation for the next Farm Bill, a House Agriculture Subcommittee took a second look at specialty crop production assistance. Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, held a hearing Thursday to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2014 Farm Bill programs aimed at benefiting specialty crop production.
Members heard from a panel of witnesses who highlighted the various programs available for specialty crops ranging from promotion programs and crop insurance to trade assistance and extension services. This hearing is a continuation in the series of hearings that set the stage for the next farm bill.
“The diversity of specialty crops makes the task of developing policy particularly challenging. These crops range from fruits and vegetables, to tree nuts, nursery crops, and floriculture each requiring different needs and attention. The 2014 Farm Bill put programs in place to address the greater need for flexibility to aid the specialty crop industry and provide more resources for research, disease response, and promotion and marketing. I am glad to hear the success these programs have had and look forward to working to improve them even more in the next farm bill,” said Subcommittee Chairman Davis.
“The specialty crop industry plays a critical role in the success of U.S. agriculture. While many overlook the significant investments we have made to support the specialty crop industry, the programs established in the 2014 Farm Bill have positively impacted our specialty crop producers. Our goal is to ensure that these tools remain available and work well for our nation’s specialty crop producers,” said Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway.
