By Clint Thompson and Dale Sandlin
Amid calls for increased dedicated financial aid for specialty crops, Stephen Vaden, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary, emphasizes that additional appropriations cannot be made possible with congressional approval.
In an interview with Dale Sandlin, Ag News Director for Southeast AgNet, Vaden was asked about the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which allocated $12 billion to farmers but only a small percentage to the specialty crops sector.
“We basically took every dollar that was available to us that we could (get) from two different fiscal years and devoted it to this problem. Without additional congressional appropriations, $12 billion, including $11 billion for row crops, and $1 billion for specialty crops and sugar, will be the total amount that we’re able to provide,” Vaden said. “Congress would have to provide additional moneys for us to be able to provide more.”
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) joined more than 50 agricultural organizations from across the country in March in urging assistance for America’s farmers, issuing a letter to President Trump. It highlighted impacts to America’s food production, including challenges faced due to multiple factors, specifically market pressures and extreme winter weather.
“This combination of sustained market pressures, weather-related challenges and geopolitical uncertainty poses a serious threat to the upcoming growing season and the long-term viability of U.S. agriculture. Food security is national security, and America’s farmers call on you to support additional resources during this turbulent time to ensure a strong, reliable and affordable domestic food supply,” the letter read.
In response to only $1 billion being allocated as part of the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, SCFBA started calling for no less than $5 billion to be provided for the specialty crop sector.
“That $1 billion that would go in part to specialty crops would be shared with sugar. Under the best of circumstances that $1 billion is maybe 20% of what specialty crops really need,” SCFBA co-chair Kam Quarles said. “If we don’t get to that $5 billion number overall, you’re certainly going to have family farms in the specialty crop industry go out of business, and we don’t want that to happen.”
The SCFBA is co-chaired by Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.
Click here to view the full letter submitted to President Trump.