The Senate Agriculture and Finance Committees could hold separate hearings on the U.S. Farm Bill next week, leading to possible consideration of a final bill onthe Senatefloor by the end of October. United Fresh and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance continue to press Senators to support increased funding for fruit and vegetable priorities including research,grants to improve industry competitiveness, and expanded produce consumption in schools.Last week a bipartisan group of 36 Senators sent a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee,urging the committee to increase the$2 billion infunding for specialty cropsthat the House passed in July. For more information, contact Robert Guenther, 202-303-3409.