Follow the money: Farm groups track specialty-crop dollars

Issue Date: January 14, 2009

By Christine Souza
Assistant Editor

They worked hard to ensure that the new federal farm bill included approximately $3 billion committed to fruits, vegetables, nuts and other "specialty crops." Now, specialty crop growers and the groups that represent them are following up to make sure the money goes to the programs included in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.

"The farm bill holds great hope for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, but our job is far from over. Just because we got the bill passed doesn't mean we still don't have a lot of work to do," said Barry Bedwell, president of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League. "We now must follow up with an efficient implementation of these provisions and we always have to be aware that there is somebody on the sidelines wanting to lower those amounts."

Bedwell's commodity organization, which represents growers and shippers of table grapes and fresh deciduous tree fruit, is one of 120 specialty crop organizations from California and around the country that joined to form a national coalition known as the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance. Following more than a year in developing consensus on initiatives in the farm bill that improve the competitiveness of producers, the coalition was satisfied that the 2008 Farm Bill was the first to contain a new title for specialty crops.

The five-year bill bolsters spending in the areas of nutrition, research, pest protection and prevention, enhanced trade opportunities and conservation.

California Farm Bureau Federation National Affairs Manager Jack King said some of these programs are already being rolled out, with regulations still being developed for others. He added that the process will be slowed as the new Obama administration takes office.

"A new administration changes things to the extent that you have new players, so there's going to be a delay because a lot of the key people will be changing places. On the other hand, a lot of what is in the farm bill is pretty much ordained by the bill itself," King said.

Representatives in Washington have debated over some farm bill funding, King said, due to the current state of the economy, budget cuts and the transition to the new administration.

"With specialty crops, there is a little bit of a tug and pull over funding. There's controversy right now regarding the implementation of country-of-origin labeling at retail for the affected fruits, vegetables, meats and other commodities. Right now the argument is about using some of the specialty crop money to implement COOL," King said. "Things will play out on two levels. Specific regulations will be put together, but we're also going to have to make sure that there is an agreement on the funding levels, and that is the work in progress."

Currently, specialty crop programs being rolled out to differing degrees by the U.S. Department of Agriculture include the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, the Specialty Crops Research Initiative and country-of-origin labeling. Programs waiting for final regulations include Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops, Specialty Crop Block Grants and the Market Access Program.

Asparagus growers are among those who'll pay attention to specialty crop programs that enhance trade assistance and market promotion to grow export sales. Cherie Watte Angulo, executive director of the California Asparagus Commission, said asparagus growers are specifically interested in Specialty Crop Block Grants and the Asparagus Market Loss program.

"In light of trade policies that disadvantaged domestic asparagus producers, we were able to get funding in the form of a market loss program," Angulo said. "As a result, $15 million will go towards fresh and processed asparagus growers. Even though it was in the farm bill, it still has to go through another funding process in Congress."

Asparagus growers are mindful that money could be redirected to other sources, so they intend to remain watchful and communicate their priorities.

"We need to be very diligent to make sure that the money that is authorized to us is used for the best purpose and for the best good. We need to make sure that the U.S. and specifically California ag industry remains viable," Angulo said.

The specialty crops sector is now looking forward to when farm bill program funding is actually appropriated, which could take some time. Important to facilitating this process is confirmation of President-elect Obama's choice for secretary of agriculture: former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. The Senate Agriculture Committee scheduled its confirmation hearing for Vilsack this week. Most observers expect he will be confirmed without major opposition.

"The specialty crop industry wholeheartedly supports Gov. Vilsack, given his past indications of support for fruits and vegetables. We think that he is a good choice," Bedwell said. "As a matter of fact, we think that it is such a good choice that it makes logical sense now to have a Californian in the No. 2 position."

(Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item. Top