FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
June 29, 2007 Ryan McLaughlin
312.943.0333
ryan@zapwater.com
STATEMENT BY SCFBA ON HOUSE AG COMMITTEE’S FARM BILL ANNOUNCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 110 specialty crop organizations, today issued the following statement regarding the announcement by U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson that he is separating the Farm Bill into two proposed bills:
“Although details of the Chairman’s proposal are not fully available, we vehemently oppose fracturing the Farm Bill into two separate pieces of legislation because it will not allow Congress to develop a farm policy that positively addresses the full breadth of agriculture, conservation and nutrition issues. This approach will make it difficult to enact legislation that reflects the needs of the specialty crop industry, which include pressing production, food, nutrition and research components. Our industry accounts for nearly half of all cash crop receipts, yet the way this Farm Bill approach is structured the needs of specialty crop producers will not be met. The 2007 Farm Bill represents a unique opportunity to enact a paradigm shift in agriculture policy for the 21st Century, but the proposals announced today fall short of the needs of many American farmers. We look forward to working with Congressional leaders and the House Agriculture Committee on drafting a Farm Bill that is more equitable for specialty crop producers.”
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