Waiting for tomorrow

Citing the fluidity of the situation, Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh, wrote me an e-mail this afternoon that said neither United Fresh nor anyone in the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Coalition plans to comment officially about the hort committee draft discussion mark until after their markup session tomorrow.

None of us should be surprised that there is no mandatory funding for the specialty crop block grants - the anorexic farm bill budget is well known - but I think some may wonder why if the program didn't merit a bigger slice of the illusory "reserve" funds - that $20 billion (over 10 years) that can't be used unless the committee finds unexpected cash or offsets.

I did talk to someone close to the hort subcommittee who said there are expected to be amendments offered tomorrow that will likely try to bring the contingency funding for the specialty crop block grants closer to the level of the EAT Healthy America Act. That bill asked for $500 million per year in block grants, and the hort subcommittee draft only provides $20 million per year starting out.

The subcommittee will welcome the amendments - particularly policy related - but House Ag Committee chairman Peterson will want to delay any actions on matters of funding until the full committee can consider it.

The commodity title and nutrition programs of the farm bill will be considered next week. Perhaps a clearer picture - a more accurate sense of outrage or satisfaction - will emerge after all the subcommittees put forward their draft marks.

TK: "Mad as hell" or "an important first step." The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Coalition must decide on its talking points. So far, MAH seems to fit the bill.