Levin Applauds Passage of Specialty Crop Provisions to Benefit Farmers in Michigan

WASHINGTON – Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., today hailed the passage of the Farm Bill, which contains provisions that will benefit Michigan’s agricultural industry. The legislation also includes funding for nationwide nutrition assistance programs, measures to encourage investment in renewable fuels and reduce oil consumption, and conservation efforts to improve soil quality, prevent erosion, benefit water quality, and preserve and restore habitats. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 79-14, and it will now move to a House-Senate conference committee.

“Michigan’s farmers have a wide variety of needs, and I am pleased that this Farm Bill contains a range of measures that will benefit farmers throughout the state,” said Levin. “For too long, this critical legislation has not included proper support for the specialty crops that are such a vital part of Michigan’s agricultural economy. With significantly more assistance to specialty crop growers than we have seen in the past, including funding for the Asparagus Market Loss Program, and protection for both specialty crop growers and traditional farmers against catastrophic crop losses, this bill is a win for Michigan.”

Levin continued, “The Farm Bill also contains important provisions to improve conservation efforts on American farms, spur the increased development and production of renewable fuels, and strengthen nutrition programs by providing additional funding. While imperfect, this bipartisan legislation strongly supports farmers and rural communities in Michigan and across the country.”

Specialty crop provisions authorized in the Farm Bill include:

• $270 Million for the State Block Grants for Specialty Crops Program Will help support state programs encouraging the consumption of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops and enhance the competitiveness of the specialty crop industry.

• $200 Million for Pests and Disease Prevention Will direct the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to create a program determining and prioritizing foreign threats to specialty crops’ production, such as bio-terrorism and will help protect the specialty crop industry from pests and diseases.

• $120 Million for Tree Removal Assistance Will help increase payments to qualifying growers for tree removal and replacement as a result of damage caused by natural disaster. Current payments do not reflect the actual costs for removal and replacement.

• $20 Million for a National Clean Plant Network Will establish the National Clean Plant Network, which will help ensure that nurseries provide safe virus-free plant materials to orchards, vineyards, and other growers. Plant materials such as apples, peaches, and grapes are particularly vulnerable to viruses.

• $19 Million for Trade Assistance Will help boost specialty crop exports by facilitating the removal of specialty crop trade barriers.

• $27 Million for Organic Crops Will aid growers to transition to organic crops.

• $15 Million for Asparagus Will help support domestic asparagus producers in Michigan, Washington, and California who were hurt by the Andean Trade Preference Act. The market loss program will compensate these growers to help them plant new acreage and invest in more efficient planting and harvesting equipment.

• $30 Million for Farmers’ Markets Will provide federal grants to support direct farmer-to-consumer marketing activities and transactions such as farmers’ markets, roadside stands, on-farm markets, and community supported agriculture.

• $7 Million for Healthy Food Will help support an infrastructure that serves healthy, affordable food to low-income communities.

• $1.133 Billion for the School Snack Program Will help support the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which helps increase children’s access to healthy food options, reducing their risk of obesity and improving their overall health.

• $50 Million for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program Will help support innovative community food projects and promote a wide variety of community-based solutions to local food system and food security problems.

• $50 Million for the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program Will provide coupons to low-income seniors for the purchase of fresh, unprepared foods at farmers’ markets and other community based agriculture programs.

• $80 Million for Specialty Crop Research Establishes a specialty crop priority focused grant program, awarding grants to eligible public and private entities to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.

• $80 Million for Organic Research Provides for organic agriculture research and extension, to enhance the ability of organic producers and processors to grow and market organic food, feed, and fiber.

• $94 Million Market Access Program Aids domestic specialty crop growers who have not benefited from reduced trade barriers, and develop a strategy plan to increase exports of specialty crops.

• $850 Million for Specialty Crop Growers in the Disaster Relief Trust Fund Currently, ad hoc agriculture disaster relief packages often get to farmers too late - sometimes years after the disaster. This delay can mean the difference between maintaining production and losing a farm for good. Michigan has received about $260 million in disaster relief from 1995 to 2006. This fund will ensure it is faster and easier for Michigan farmers to receive these payments.