DC update

Robert Guenther of United tells me this morning that the USDA's announcement of block grant fund availability is the second installment that accounts for funding during fiscal year 2007. This blast of funding for specialty crop block grants brings the total for the fiscal to about $14 million.

The EAT Healthy America Act, introduced earlier in the House, allocates about $500 million per year for specialty crop block grants. Guenther said United is pursuing a dual track to find money for block grants - through the appropriations process and also through attempts to construct permanent funding through the farm bill.

Meanwhile, Guenther said the Senate version of the Eat Healthy America Act is now expected to be introduced next week. The additional time will spent in part securing co-sponsors, he said.

The course of the immigration issue may be shaped during the last two weeks of May. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has said he will reserve that time period for the Senate to consider comprehensive legislation.

Guenther said if comprehensive legislation doesn't move, it will change the dynamics of the process and likely result in a push to consider AgJobs separately.