Up Front
By Frank Giles
We’ve preached to the choir and shouted from the rooftops about the importance of growers being active advocates on their behalf and making their voices heard by lawmakers at local, state and federal levels. That message is always important but probably now more than ever.
With the Trump administration in place and a flurry of activity underway aimed at cutting government spending and waste, the voice of the American farmer needs to be well represented. I believe a thorough accounting for spending is needed, but a priority on food security is critical.
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has been an advocate in this cause. In February, the SCFBA, along with Ryan Talley, vice president and co-owner of Talley Farms in Arroyo Grande, California, went to Washington to make their voices heard.
Tally testified before the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing on “Examining the Economic Crisis in Farm Country.” Representing SCFBA, Talley emphasized the urgent need for a bipartisan solution to the agriculture workforce crisis and outlined key policy priorities essential for inclusion in the next farm bill. He told members of the committee why investing in specialty crops is worthwhile.
“Investing in specialty crops is good value for the taxpayer’s money and benefits all Americans,”
Talley said. “Our products make up nearly half the farm gate value in the United States, yet we receive only a fraction of farm bill resources. It’s time for Congress to correct that imbalance.
“When you invest more in specialty crops — which include nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables and
tree nuts — you are also investing in the long-term health and security of the American people.”
He went on to testify about what you’ve all felt on your farms — the impact of rising input costs, market disruptions and natural disasters. Labor remains the largest expense for specialty crop producers, with costs soaring over 40% in the past four years.
According to the SCFBA, the need for a modernized safety net tailored to specialty crop producers is critical. Talley urged Congress to support reforms that make crop insurance more accessible and effective for specialty crop growers.
“We need a safety net that works for all specialty crop growers,” Talley said. “Our 2025
recommendations will include comprehensive reforms to crop insurance, ensuring an adaptable,
affordable and effective system that meets the needs of our industry.”
The SCFBA outlined key policy recommendations for the upcoming farm bill, including:
- Increased funding for research and development, particularly for crop protection and labor-saving technologies
- Enhanced federal procurement programs to ensure more nutritious specialty crops reach American consumers
- Technical assistance for growers adapting to extreme weather and natural disasters
- Reforms to crop insurance to provide meaningful coverage to specialty crop growers for the first time
- Increased support for longstanding specialty crop programs that are chronically under-funded and over-subscribed, such as the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Specialty Crop Block Grants and trade-related Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program
“Specialty crop growers face unique challenges, and our industry needs solutions tailored to our
realities,” Talley concluded. “We urge Congress to pass a bipartisan farm bill that invests in the
long-term competitiveness of American agriculture.”
Good on Talley for heading to Washington and preaching to the lawmakers about crafting this important farm legislation. And a big thank-you to the Southeastern specialty crop growers who’ve made that same trip before, too. Your voice is needed for the security of our country.