By Clint Thompson
Southeast specialty crop producers eagerly await a new farm bill. With the current piece of legislation set to expire on Sept. 30, fruit and vegetable growers, along with other farmers across the U.S., are hopeful a new farm bill will be passed sooner rather than later.
Adam Rabinowitz, Alabama Extension economist, provided an update on the farm bill and compared it to 2014.
“The current farm bill that we’re running under has been extended until Sept. 30. That’s the second extension. That does give some time for Congress to make some decisions, but I know there’s been talk about, could some of the farm bill ultimately be part of a reconciliation process and some other legislation? There are a lot of questions, not only about ag policy but food as well,” Rabinowitz said.
“Prior to the 2014 farm bill there were two extensions and part of the reason why was that there were significant changes being looked at on the ag side and in particular, the republicans were pushing significant changes on the nutrition side. There’s similar aspects to before the 2014 farm bill that we’re seeing right now in some of the same discussions.”
Background
Fruit and vegetable growers have multiple needs they hope are addressed in the newest edition of the farm bill, specifically labor and trade. The farm bill is a piece of legislation that is renewed every five years. President Trump signed the current farm bill into law on Dec. 20, 2018.
U.S. Secretary of Ag Brooke Rollins spoke to ag leaders at the National Association of Counties meeting on March 4. She previewed her vision for restoring rural prosperity to America and also provided an update on the farm bill with hopes of Congress finalizing a bill.
“I am also committed to working with Congress to get a new farm bill across the finish line this year. We have a terrific team of members in the House and Senate leading those efforts, and I stand ready to assist them,” Rollins said. “Together, we can avoid punting a full five-year farm bill for a third time and instead provide farmers the certainty they need to plan for the future.”