News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2006
Contact: Robert Guenther at 202-303-3400
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Representative to Testify Before Agriculture Committee
Washington, DC (September 20, 2006) – On Wednesday, September 20th Jim Wysocki, President of National Potato Council and Chief Financial Officer for Wysocki Farms, a family owned potato farming and packing operation located in Brancroft, Wisconsin is slated to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture to provide input on the specialty crop industry’s priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill. Wysocki is representing the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a coalition of more than 75 organizations representing growers of specialty crops.
Over the past 14 months the SCFBA steering committee co-chaired by by Mike Stuart, President of Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Tom Nassif, President of Western Growers Association, and John Keeling, President of the National Potato Council working with a broad cross section of the specialty crop industry has developed a comprehensive set of policies for inclusion in the 2007 Farm Bill. Wysocki’s testimony will reflect several of the key priorities that the SCFBA has developed over the past year. Some of the key priorities include:
Boost specialty crop marketing around the world Provide more funding for research into specialty crop production Improve programs to fight pests and diseases that increasingly threaten U.S. specialty crops Broaden the use of fruits and vegetables in nutrition programs to promote a healthier America Enhance conservation programs to allow more specialty crop growers to participate and help protect the environment Expand the use of block grants to states for addressing specific local producer priorities
Tomorrow’s hearing is being held in Room 1300 Longworth House Office Building beginning at 10:00 a.m. For copies of Mr. Wysocki’s testimony and more information about the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, please access www.competitiveagriculture.org. Live audio will be available at the start of each hearing, and can be accessed at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html.
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