By Clint Thompson
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) was thrilled to see many of its recommendations included in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee’s passage of the farm bill last week.
But Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the SCFBA, remains grounded in his excitement. He understands it is a long process from now until the legislation is finalized.
“At the simplest level, this is a positive because it started the farm bill process. We actually have some tangible results,” Quarles said. “The House Agriculture Committee, on a bi-partisan basis, was able to report out their version of a new farm bill. This is obviously the first step in what is going to be a long process.
“From the fruit and vegetable industry, the specialty crop industry, the committee-reported bill has got a lot of investments in research, mechanization, pest and disease exclusion and trade. I think if you told us a year ago that the committee-bill was going to include all of these priorities for the specialty crop industry, a lot of folks that have been around a while wouldn’t have necessarily believed that. From our industry’s perspective, it’s very positive.”
What Now?
“Obviously, there’s going to be a bunch of back and forth and negotiations as the farm bill moves forward, both in the House and Senate. Those debates are going to go on for quite a while,” Quarles continued. “I think it’s important for folks to realize that we need to keep the momentum going. Those negotiations need to happen, and folks who get wrapped around the axle that something isn’t perfect right out of the gate and want to shut the whole farm bill down, that’s just guaranteeing us an extension. Bi-partisan conversations need to continue, and it’s the only way we’re going to get to a bill this year.”
The SCFBA is comprised of more than 200 specialty crop organizations and represents growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products.