Section by section analysis

Released yesterday, here is a section by section analysis from the House Ag Committee on the draft mark of the subcommittee on horticulture and organic produce:


Beside the language on specialty crop block grants, the draft explicitly authorizes the use of USDA marketing orders for food safety purposes. The subcommittee also wants to move border inspectors back to the USDA from the CBP.



It was somewhat surprising to see amendments in the draft mark on commodity specific measures like clementine and avocado import standards and mushroom promotion order changes. One lobbyist said he expected amendments like those eventually, but he thought everyone was focused on the big picture priorities first. Do these amendments silence some would be critics of farm bill equity and fairness, to the detriment of the whole industry?


No official comment from the specialty crop farm bill alliance on today's markup and the draft mark, but I imagine the tone will be measured and even handed. Any success the industry can achieve with the farm bill on the House side still lies mainly with Rep. Cardoza.