House Subcommittee Passes Commodity Title, Full Committee Delays
June 22, 2007
Tuesday the House General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee approved a new farm bill commodity title that includes an amendment to the original draft bill. The amendment, which was offered by Subcommittee Chairman Bob Etheridge (D-NC) and unanimously approved, maintains the planting restriction provision and percentage of base acreage for which program crop growers can receive payments. The amendment also retains the same safety net of marketing assistance loans, direct payments, and counter-cyclical payments as set forth in the 2002 Farm Bill. The subcommittee approved another amendment that creates a pilot program allowing contracted growers in Indiana to grow tomatoes on base acreage. "We are disappointed that the subcommittee failed to make the necessary commodity title reforms that would establish equity in this farm bill process," said Robert Guenther, United Fresh senior vice president, public policy. "The planting restrictions have been a part of domestic farm policy since 1985, and maintaining these provisions is a fundamental issue for fruit and vegetable growers across this country." House Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson announced this week that the full committee markup, originally scheduled for next week, will be delayed until further notice. United Fresh will continue to work with the committee and Members of Congress who support drafting an equitable bill for specialty crops and ensuring U.S. farm policy is more representative of American agriculture. For more information, please contact Robert Guenther at (202) 303-3409.
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
