More specialty crop programs

I have previously posted details of the specialty crop block grants and the fruit and vegetable program. Here is more detail on other Specialty Crop Programs. This is a section by section analysis of the farm bill markup from the Senate Agriculture Committee:

Subtitle F—Specialty Crop Programs
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Sec.1801. Definitions.
Sets out definitions of various terms used throughout the section including ‘specialty crop,’ ‘State,’ and ‘State department of agriculture"
PART I—Marketing, Information, and Education
Sec.1811. Fruit and vegetable market news allocation.
The provision requires the Agricultural Marketing Service to carry out market news activities to provide timely price information on fruits and vegetables in the United States. Authorizes $9,000,000 annually
Sec.1812. Farmers’ market promotion program.
Amends section 6 of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) to reauthorize the Farmers Market Promotion Program. This provision was first authorized in the 2002 farm bill and provides funds to local governments, non-profit corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities or other entities designated by the Secretary to expand farmers markets and roadside stands.
Provides $30,000,000 in mandatory funding.
Sec.1813. Food safety initiatives.
Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a food safety education program to educate the public and the fresh produce industry about practices and methods that will reduce microbial pathogens and cross contamination in fresh produce.
Authorizes $1,000,000.
Sec.1814. Census of specialty crops.
Requires the Secretary to conduct a census of specialty crops to assist in the development and dissemination of specialty crop information. The census of specialty crops may be included in the census on agriculture.
PART II—Organic Production
Sec.1821. Organic data collection and price reporting.
This provision amends Section 2104 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6503) by granting the Secretary authority to segregate data as it relates to the organic industry by publishing organic production and marketing information and surveys. The language is intended to remedy the lack of price and yield information for organic producers.
Provides $5,000,000 in mandatory funding.
Sec.1822. Exemption of certified organic products from assessments.
Current law requires farms to be 100 percent organic to be exempt from assessments from commodity promotion programs for that part of land that is managed as organic. This provision amends Section 501(e) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
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Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7401 (e)) to allow farmers who have some or part of their farm certified organic to receive the exemption.
Sec.1823. National Organic Certification Cost Share Program.
This provision amends Section 10606 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523) to reauthorize the National Organic Certification Cost-Share program, which provides funds for the Secretary to assist producers and handlers of agricultural products in obtaining certification under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. Payments to producers or handlers are limited to $750, and the federal share of the certification cost will be no more than 75 percent of the total certification cost incurred.
Provides $22,000,000 in mandatory funding.
Sec.1824. National organic program.
This provision amends section 2123 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6522) to provide increased authorized incremental funding levels for the National Organic Program to ensure proper compliance and oversight of the National Organic Program.
Authorizes $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; $9,500,000 for fiscal year 2011; and $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
PART III—International Trade
Sec.1831. Foreign market access study and strategy plan.
This section requires the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study regarding the extent to which United States specialty crops have or have not benefited from the reduction of foreign trade barriers under the Uruguay Round.
Sec.1832. Market access program.
This provision amends Section 211(c) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641(c)) to require the Secretary to ensure 50 percent of any funding in excess of $200,000,000 under the Market Access Program be provided to the specialty crop industry.
Sec.1833. Technical assistance for specialty crops.
This provision amends Section 3205 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 5680), which funds projects that address sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops, to allow petition for an extension of a project that will exceed applicable time restrictions.
Provides $19 million over five years, an increase of $24 million from the current baseline.
Sec.1834. Consultations on sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions for fruits and vegetables.
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Requires the Secretary to consult with interested persons and conduct annual briefings on sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues, included the development of a strategic risk management framework and as appropriate implementation of a peer review for risk analysis. Additionally, this section amends Section 2104(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II)) to ensure special consultation on import sensitive products.