House hearing - The panelists

A long hort subcommittee hearing today chaired by Rep. Cardoza today, one in which the industry made a number of strong points. Still, Acheson may have trumped everything else that was said with news of the farm in Mexico where the salmonella Saintpaul pathogen was found. David Mitchell developing for The Packer....

Cardoza: "This bill threads the needle."

A "veto-proof" margin is celebrated. From the office of Rep. Dennis Cardoza:

Today Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18) applauded the passage of landmark reforms in the Farm Bill Conference Report that will finally allow California farmers and producers to benefit equitably from government farm programs. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture and a member of the conference committee, Mr. Cardoza helped to include historic investments in specialty crops, conservation, and nutrition programs in the bill, as well as commonsense improvements to the subsidy programs.

“California agriculture is finally getting the respect and treatment it deserves. This is a Farm Bill that I am proud to support,” said Cardoza during debate on the House floor. “I am especially proud of the new $2.3 billion federal investment in specialty crops and the $150 million subprogram within EQIP for air quality improvement.”

The 2007 Farm Bill contains historic funding for programs that are priorities to specialty crop farmers, conservationists, and nutrition advocates. This funding includes resources for research and pest detection, block grants, organic farming, farmer’s market promotion, the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP), and the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Snack program, which helps provide fresh fruits and vegetables to low income school children.

Within the EQIP program the bill contains $150 million for air quality mitigation, which will help farmers comply with federal and local air pollution laws. These funds are critical for farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley which has some of the worst air in the nation and the toughest air quality laws. The bill also contains important technical changes that will allow more California farmers to be eligible for authorized farming programs.

Mr. Cardoza and other members of the Agriculture Committee, many of whom are Blue Dog Democrats, were dedicated to complying with pay-as-you-go (PAY-GO) rules in passing the Farm Bill. Compliance with PAY-GO and competing funding priorities, required lawmakers to take a hard look at all farm programs and discontinue or de-fund those that were not operating effectively, resulting in a completely paid for bill.

“This bill threads the needle,” said Cardoza. “While people didn’t get everything they wanted, the country got what it needed. That speaks volumes about the quality of this bill and tells me we ended up in exactly the right place. For the first time in the history of the farm bill lawmakers, conservationists, nutrition advocates, and farmers from all regions of the country support the overall bill.”

The Farm Bill passed on the House floor by a veto-proof margin of 318 – 106.

Coming on

Had some visits today with David Gombas of United, Michelle Smith of FDA and sat in on a little bit of a labor hearing, where Reggie Brown of the Florida Tomato Committee was testifying. I missed the farm bill conference hearing, but I've heard that not a lot happened.

From a Capitol Hill staffer, I heard there there will be a Putnam-Cardoza produce safety bill introduced in the not too distant future.

Will the WIC food packages be reopened? Juice and fresh potato interests (United also favors including potatoes) wants to revise the packages, and others want to gain back the $2 per month lost in rulemaking. I have an interview with John Keeling on Thursday and I'm sure the topic will come up....

Tomorrow I'll spend some time at the USDA and try to catch some more or the farm bill conference.

What - or more accurately, where - is the future venue of United's shows? Haven't seen Tom Stenzel this week to ask him, and no one else on United staff is spilling the beans. When I see Tom, I'll see if he has any news....

Conference assignments - Farm Bill

This is admittedly "inside the beltway" info, but here - from the House Agriculture Committee - are section assignments for House conferees on the farm bill:

Several of you have asked for the section assignments for the House conferees named last night. The 14 members of the Agriculture Committee named to the conference will participate in all aspects of the conference meetings. The other 35 Members named to the conference will only participate in the specific areas of jurisdiction their committees are involved in. As the conferees were named last night, they were assigned specific sections of the farm bill that they will be involved with. The following is the text of what was read by the Clerk on the House Floor last night:
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Agriculture for consideration of the House bill (except title XII) and the Senate amendment (except secs. 12001, 12201-12601, and 12701-12808), and modifications committed to conference: Peterson (MN), Holden, McIntyre, Etheridge, Boswell, Baca, Cardoza, Scott (GA), Goodlatte, Lucas, Moran (KS), Hayes, Musgrave, and Neugebauer.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Education and Labor for consideration of secs. 4303 and 4304 of the House bill, and secs. 4901-4905, 4911, and 4912 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Miller, George, McCarthy (NY), and Platts.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Financial Services for consideration of sec. 11310 of the House bill, and secs. 6501-6505, 11068, and 13107 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Kanjorski, Waters, and Bachus.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration of secs. 3001-3008, 3010-3014, and 3016 of the House bill, and secs. 3001-3022, 3101-3107, and 3201-3204 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Berman, Sherman, and Ros-Lehtinen.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of secs. 11102, 11312, and 11314 of the House bill, and secs. 5402, 10103, 10201, 10203, 10205, 11017, 11069, 11076, 13102, and 13104 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Conyers, Scott (VA), and Smith (TX).
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Natural Resources for consideration of secs. 2313, 2331, 2341, 2405, 2607, 2607A, 2611, 5401, 6020, 7033, 7311, 8101, 8112, 8121-8127, 8204, 8205, 11063, and 11075 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Rahall, Bordallo, and McMorris Rodgers.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for consideration of secs. 1501 and 7109 of the House bill, and secs. 7020, 7313, 7314, 7316, 7502, 8126, 8205, and 10201 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Waxman, Towns, and Jordan.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Science and Technology for consideration of secs. 4403, 9003, 9006, 9010, 9015, 9019, and 9020 of the House bill, and secs. 7039, 7051, 7315, 7501, and 9001 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Gordon, Lampson, and McCaul (TX).
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Small Business for consideration of subtitle D of title XI of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Velazquez, Shuler, and Chabot.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration of secs. 2203, 2301, 6019, and 6020 of the House bill, and secs. 2604, 6029, 6030, 6034, and 11087 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Oberstar, Norton, and Graves.
The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Ways and Means for consideration of sec. 1303 and title XII of the House bill, and secs. 12001-12601, and 12701-12808 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Rangel, Pomeroy, and McCrery.
The Speaker appointed conferees For consideration of the House bill (except title XII) and the Senate amendment (except secs. 12001, 12201-12601, and 12701-12808), and modifications committed to conference: DeLauro and Putnam.

House Farm Bill Conferees named (finally)

We are down to the last week of farm bill negotiations before the April 18 deadline, and House Speaker Pelosi finally gave the green light to name House conferees. From the office of Chairman Peterson, chair of the House Ag Committee:

Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson today announced the list of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to participate in the conference committee that will negotiate the 2008 Farm Bill.

"The Members serving on this conference committee have a challenging job as we work to come to an agreement that will move the Farm Bill forward," Chairman Peterson said. "I'm confident that if everyone comes to the table willing to negotiate and compromise, we
can pass a new Farm Bill that will expand important nutrition and conservation programs and provide new resources for fruit and vegetable producers and renewable energy programs while improving the farm safety net."

The Democratic Members of Congress selected to serve on the conference committee are:
From the Agriculture Committee:
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota
Congressman Tim Holden of Pennsylvania
Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina
Congressman Bob Etheridge of North Carolina
Congressman Leonard Boswell of Iowa
Congressman Joe Baca of California
Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California
Congressman David Scott of Georgia

Conferees on Farm Bill provisions with jurisdiction beyond the Agriculture Committee:
Congressman George Miller of California (Education and Labor)
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York (Education and Labor)
Congressman John Dingell of Michigan (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania (Financial Services)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California (Financial Services)
Congressman Howard Berman of California (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman Brad Sherman of California (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman John Conyers of Michigan (Judiciary)
Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia (Judiciary)
Congressman Nick Rahall of West Virginia (Natural Resources)
Delegate Madeline Bordallo of Guam (Natural Resources)
Congressman Henry Waxman of California (Oversight and Government Reform)
Congressman Edolphus Towns of New York (Oversight and Government Reform)
Congressman Bart Gordon of Tennessee (Science and Technology)
Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas (Science and Technology)
Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez of New York (Small Business)
Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina (Small Business)
Congressman Jim Oberstar of Minnesota (Transportation and Infrastructure)
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia (Transportation and Infrastructure)
Congressman Charles Rangel of New York (Ways and Means)
Congressman Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota (Ways and Means)

The Republican Members of Congress selected to serve on the conference committee are:
From the Agriculture Committee:
Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte of Virginia
Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma
Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas
Congressman Robin Hayes of North Carolina
Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave of Colorado
Congressman Randy Neugebauer of Texas

Conferees on Farm Bill provisions with jurisdiction beyond the Agriculture Committee:
Congressman Todd Platts of Pennsylvania (Education and Labor)
Congressman Joe Barton of Texas (Energy and Commerce)
Congressman Spencer Bachus of Alabama (Financial Services)
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida (Foreign Affairs)
Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas (Judiciary)
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers of Washington (Natural Resources)
Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio (Oversight and Government Reform)
Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas (Science and Technology)
Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio (Small Business)
Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri (Transportation and Infrastructure)
Congressman Jim McCrery of Louisiana (Ways and Means)

The Members of Congress selected from Leadership to serve on the conference committee are:
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida

Asparagus relief survives

This story notes the Senate's rejection of an amendment that would have stripped away relief from asparagus growers. After specialty crops are ignored all these years and program crop growers get hundreds of billions, now the Senate goes after $15 million for asparagus growers as an example of government waste? Really?

From the AP story:

Asparagus farmers held on to $15 million in farm bill subsidies Wednesday as conservatives targeted the money as an example of wasteful spending in the multibillion-dollar legislation.The Senate rejected, 56-39, an amendment by Sen. Judd Gregg that would have taken the asparagus money out of the $286 billion legislation. Asparagus growers have not received direct subsidies in the past, and Gregg and other opponents of the wide-ranging farm legislation said the money is illustrative of the bloated bill that is nonetheless politically popular in farm country. Farm-state senators from both parties held together to save the asparagus language, authored by Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat. Stabenow said producers have suffered because trade agreements have increased the amount of imported asparagus in recent years.

TK: Good for Stabenow. Like Cardoza in the House, Stabenow is a key player in the Senate for the specialty crop industry as the farm bill debate goes on. Hopes are that she will be on the House-Senate farm bill conference committee. By the way, here is the link to the Senate Web site that has record of the votes on farm bill amendments from yesterday.

Cardoza on six-legged terrorists

Rep. Cardoza may just have the political will to pull this off, but the powers that be are not in his favor. It will be interesting to watch the Nov. 1 joint hearing between the Agriculture Committee and the Homeland Security Committee: From the office of Rep. Dennis Cardoza:

WASHINGTON, DC— Today Chairman Cardoza of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture held a hearing to review the joint performance of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security in protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and disease. Investigative reports presented during the hearing showed that the consolidation of border inspection powers under the Department of Homeland Security resulted in a breakdown in stopping foreign pests and prohibited agricultural products from entering the country.

“Stopping foreign pests and prohibited agricultural products from entering the US might not be as sexy as stopping terrorists, weapons, or drugs but it is certainly just as important,” said Chairman Cardoza during the hearing. “These are six and eight-legged terrorists that can wreak havoc on our nation’s agricultural industry, costing billions of taxpayer dollars in eradication efforts and decimate our ability to access new export markets.”

Until March 1, 2003, the agricultural quarantine inspection (AQI) program was under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s APHIS. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred that responsibility, and 1800 agricultural inspectors, from APHIS to the Department of Homeland Security’s CPB. The Agriculture Committee’s investigator, the Government Accountability Office, and the Homeland Security Department’s Office of the Inspector General all testified on separate reports they conducted which show the AQI program has been poorly administered and under-prioritized by CBP. The testimony included startling anecdotal evidence and statistics about the state of AQI since the transfer, including a 27% increase in new pest and disease incursions in Florida and nearly half of the agricultural inspectors leaving CPB. The consensus of these reports is that CBP is not preventing foreign pests and disease incursions and has fostered a poor working environment for agricultural inspectors.

CPB has traditionally been responsible for regulating international trade, collecting import duties, and preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the U.S. CBP does not have experience or expertise at pest and disease exclusion. Some experts and investigators testifying at today’s hearing believe that the APHIS program, with responsibilities for AQI, should be transferred back to USDA.

Chairman Cardoza summed up the hearing, “The testimony here today has shown that this transfer has been a colossal mistake and a colossal waste of taxpayer money. I hope that we can correct this mistake promptly.”

On November 1, 2007 the House Agriculture and Homeland Security Committees are scheduled to have a joint hearing on the AQI program and explore solutions to improve pest exclusion at our borders.

Bringing it strong

Should pest exclusion duties go back to the USDA? That was the focus of the House ag subcommittee hearing today. The first panel broke up about 15 minutes ago and the second panel is expected to testify in about 30 minutes after a few votes.

I've uploaded the prepared statements from two panels testifying before the House Ag Committee's subcommittee on horticulture and organic agriculture to our Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group. Find Joel Nelsen's testimony here, John McClung here and Charles Bronson here. Also find DHS panelist here, House Ag Committee investigator John Jurich here and GAO official Shames here.

The sentiment of Jurich is that things have gone badly for pest exclusion since DHS has assumed duties, notwithstanding some recent changes. Meanwhile, hort committee chairman Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., stressed the difficulties that the DHS has faced in his questioning of the panelists. But can it be changed? Certainly the odds are against it.

Here is an excerpt from Joel Nelsen's testimony:

We have a passion for the program, we understand it and no other agricultural entity has a greater working knowledge of this program. This passion was first presented to DHS in 2003 when a small group of CEO’s from agricultural organizations across the country met with Commissioner Bonner and senior assistant Jay Ahern. At that meeting we were assured of the following: that the program would be better than ever; that one face at the border would work; that there are more inspectors working to protect agriculture with the merger of Customs & Border Protection; that CBP is sensitive to our concerns and remains open to stakeholder communications; that training and education will be cornerstones of the program; and that we have an excellent working relationship with USDA. These statements were elements of that discussion. Unfortunately, this situation did not materialize. Since then I have had no less than six meetings at DHS headquarters in which I was assured identified problems were being corrected. Identified problems ranged from the slowness of the training program, adequate utilization of AQI dollars, the reduction in interceptions, interagency battles, a major deterioration of the beagle brigade program, and high staff turnover, just to name a few.


Later.....

Well, we’re through with second chances, done with third chances, and tired of fourth chances. It’s not as if a path for improvement had never been identified. I read the reports, you read the reports but nobody of consequence acted as a result of the reports. And now the agencies and certain members of Congress ask us for one more chance with the status quo?


TK: Joel Nelsen brings it strong, and he makes a convincing case that border pest inspection duties should revert back to the USDA. Unfortunately, both neither DHS nor the USDA appear to want any part of such a transfer.

Pelosi : Before I leave that point

TK: Here is a link to the Congressional Record report of Friday's farm bill debate: Below is an excerpt from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California and her strong and very detailed support of the f/v provisions. It is interesting to observe her mention of food safety in relation to specialty crops seems to indicate that Democratic leaderships links Congressional action on fruit and vegetable priorities with legislative movement on food safety issues. Look for more news from DeLauro's office this coming week.


Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman, the distinguished chairman of the Agriculture Committee for yielding, and I want to congratulate him for this achievement for bringing this important bill to the floor.
As a Californian, I take special interest also that the bill makes a historic investment in specialty crops, providing $1.7 billion in new mandatory spending. This investment was made possible by the leadership of Congressman Dennis Cardoza. And many provisions in his bill, the EAT Healthy America Act, which is a very important bill for us, EAT Healthy America Act, were incorporated in this bill that is before us today. This legislation supports specialty crops, that is, fruits and vegetables, by increasing market access, encouraging and facilitating consumption of nutritious agricultural products, funding research initiatives and increasing opportunities for family farmers in conservation initiatives. Specifically, just so you know what falls under this, the bill invests $365 million for Specialty Crop Block Grants; $350 million to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable School Snack Program to all 50 States, and I repeat that, $350 million to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable School Snack Program to all 50 States; $215 million to create a new dedicated research initiative for specialty crops; $200 million to create a new initiative for early detection, prevention, and eradication of emerging pests and disease; $55 million for organic agriculture. What is important about all of this is many of these resources will be invested in the Northeast, in the Middle Atlantic States, in the Northwest and California, where agriculture is a very important part of the economy but where not very much attention had been paid in the past in the farm bills. This is a big change and signals a new direction in this farm bill. Specialty crop producers, our fruit and vegetable growers, account for nearly half of all cash crop receipts in America and are a part of the farm economy in all 50 States, as I mentioned, especially important, California, the Northeast, Northwest, and Florida. I mentioned that I was a Californian. I was also born in Maryland; so I know the importance of the Chesapeake Bay, and I salute the chairman for the initiative in here in support of the Chesapeake Bay. I see my colleague Majority Leader Hoyer nodding his head in agreement. But I want to acknowledge Chairman Chris Van Hollen, for whom this has been a priority since he came[[Page H8765]]to Congress, and now he has been joined by John Sarbanes in support of this. And I know it has bipartisan support because Congressman Gilchrest supports these initiatives as well. From Monterey Bay across the country to the Chesapeake Bay, this bill represents a new direction. Let me just say that is why this bill is supported by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of more than 120 specialty crop organizations. Before I leave that point, I want to talk about food safety. One of the reasons that many of us are in politics, and I know many moms come to politics, is for our having a safer, clean environment for our children. Clean air, clean water, food safety, these are things we can't do for them, but we depend on public policy to do; and the initiatives in this legislation for food safety are important. They will be greatly enhanced by the legislation put forth next week by the Appropriations subcommittee Chair, Congresswoman DeLauro, in her appropriations bill.

Border inspectors: closer scrutiny

I asked Chairman Collin Peterson about the issue of border inspectors and the amendment by Rep. Dennis Cardoza to transfer them back to USDA from DHS. Although objections were raised by DHS and the amendment was withdrawn, Peterson's supports Cardoza in this and said he has done some investigative work on the issue. Expect hearings and perhaps release of some of the investigative findings in the not too distant future, Peterson said.

Peterson comes off as the ultimate pragmatist. Speaking about both the Administration's version of the farm bill, Peterson noted it probably was full of good ideas....but without a constituency to support your ideas, your plan fails.

Peterson likeways made the point about Sen. Harkin's focus on CSP, or the Conservation Security Program. While Harkin loves the program, it hasn't built up a constituency and Harkin is having a hard time rallying support within his own committee.

Western Growers release

Here is the Western Growers news release about the farm bill:


WESTERN GROWERS APPLAUDS THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR PASSING ITS VERSION OF THE 2007 FARM BILL

IRVINE, CA (July 27, 2007) – Western Growers applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing its version of the 2007 Farm Bill today. Western Growers, with other specialty crop allies, has worked tirelessly for more than two years to ensure the specialty crop industry’s priorities are included in the Farm Bill, and today’s passage by the House is a major step toward achieving that goal.
“We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Farm Bill. For the first time, the Farm Bill recognizes the priorities of an industry that accounts for more than half of all crop value in the country,” said Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif. “Our Representatives in Congress have shown tremendous leadership by investing in a 21st Century Farm Bill, which addresses the needs of all of agriculture.”
The House version of the Farm Bill, which would provide more than $1.7 billion in mandatory funding for key specialty crop programs over the next five years, would expand the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program to all 50 states, enhance critical trade assistance and market promotion tools that will grow international markets for specialty crops, expand detection and mitigation efforts to combat invasive pests and diseases; which costs the economy millions of dollars per year; provide a greater investment in research and development and expand the “State Specialty Crop Competitiveness” projects in all 50 states to enhance the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables and nuts.
“This is truly an historic moment for our country and industry,” Nassif said. “We especially want to recognize and commend Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who has worked diligently on our industry’s behalf to secure our representation in the Farm Bill for more than two years. We also strongly applaud House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and ranking Republican Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) for their leadership and courage in shaping our federal farm policy based on competition and geared toward the 21st Century marketplace.
“We recognize, however, that there is still a lot of work to be done on this issue,” Nassif said. “It’s now time for the Senate to build on the efforts of House. The current Farm Bill is set to expire this year and the status quo is not acceptable.”
Western Growers; which is a co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, a national coalition of 120 specialty crop organizations who have banded together to support priorities that provide an avenue for more competition into federal farm policy with a focus on producing a safer, healthier and more nutritious food supply; is an agricultural trade association whose nearly 3,000 members grow, pack and ship ninety percent of the fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California and seventy five percent of those commodities in Arizona. This totals about half of the nation’s fresh produce.

Cardoza statement after farm bill passage

Here is statement from Rep. Dennis Cardoza, mere moments after sliding acorss my inbox.


WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18) heralded the passage of landmark reforms in the 2007 Farm Bill that will finally allow California farmers and producers to benefit equally from government farm programs. Mr. Cardoza helped to include historic investments in specialty crops, conservation, and nutrition programs in the 2007 Farm Bill, as well as commonsense improvements to the subsidy programs.

“California agriculture is finally getting the respect and treatment it deserves. This is a huge win for California and the right policy for America,” said Cardoza. He continued, “Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Peterson deserve credit for producing a farm bill for the 21st century that will support America’s farmers and comply with House pay-go rules.”

The 2007 Farm Bill contains $1.6 billion for programs that are priorities to specialty farmers, conservationists, and nutrition advocates. This funding includes resources for research and pest detection, block grants, organic farming, farmer’s market promotion, the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP), and the National School Lunch Program, which helps provide fresh fruits and vegetables to school children.

Within the EQIP program the bill contains $150 million for air quality mitigation, which will help farmers comply with federal and local air pollution laws. These funds are critical for farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley which has some of the worst air in the nation and the toughest air quality laws. The bill also contains important technical changes that will allow more California farmers to be eligible for authorized farming programs.

The 2007 Farm Bill makes significant and timely reforms to many farm programs that were no longer functioning efficiently. The bill stops all payments to wealthy farmers with income over $1 million per year, fights waste, fraud, and abuse in the crop insurance program, and closes the “three-entity” rule. Savings from these programs are shifted to sectors of growing importance, like organic agriculture, and nutrition programs to get healthy farm products to school children.

Mr. Cardoza and other members of the Agriculture Committee, many of whom are Blue Dog Democrats, were dedicated to complying with pay-go rules in the 2007 Farm Bill. Compliance with pay-go and competing funding priorities, required lawmakers to take a hard look at all farm programs and discontinue or de-fund those that were not operating effectively.

“This bill threads the needle,” said Cardoza. “There is something for everyone to dislike, but everyone got what they needed. For the first time in the history of the farm bill lawmakers, conservationists, nutrition advocates, and farmers from all regions of the country support the overall bill.”

The 2007 Farm Bill passed on the House floor by a vote of 231 – 191. Farm Bill legislation will next be considered by the Senate.

Democratic lean

Within an hour or so, the House of Representatives will finish a "votarama" on amendments and then pass the 2007 farm bill. It will be a big day of celebration for the fresh produce industry, with nearly $2 billion in mandatory funding for specialty crop priorities over five years.

While the farm bill is traditionally a bipartisan effort, this year's voting will be dominated in the "yea" column by Democrats. Republicans, including Rep. Bob Goodlatte, have said they can't vote for the bill because of a tax provision on foreign companies doing business in the U.S. One lobbyist said perhaps 10 to 12 Republicans - that is all - may peel off and vote for the farm bill. The final vote will be deceiving, since many more Republicans would have voted for the farm bill if the tax provision had been excluded. The House Agriculture Committee developed their farm bill in a bipartisan manner, they just couldn't close the deal.

Still, the confluence of big gains for the specialty crop industry in the farm bill and Democratic control of both chambers of Congress may signal a shift in industry loyalties. Democratic receptiveness to nutrition issues and their willingness to provide mandatory funding for specialty crop block grants buys them considerable goodwill.

Besides the giant contribution from Rep. Dennis Cardoza, the work of Chairman Peterson, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Ag appropriations subcommittee chair Rosa DeLauro all figured positively in the farm bill.

Industry lobbyists - so valuable to the trade in this farm bill debate - will continue to have much work ahead. Working the Senate for similar or better treatment in that chamber's version of the farm bill is obviously front and center.

How Congress deals with food safety issues in the weeks ahead also will be worth watching. Some of the Democrats who played the most helpful roles in securing industry priorities in the farm bill also will advance some of the most aggressive food safety remedies.

The industry will want to tread carefully as the food safety debate advance. Industry leaders don't want to alienate some of their biggest allies on the Democratic side of the aisle. Republicans may prove quite helpful to the industry if they provide moderation and caution when their Democratic colleagues offer over-prescriptive solutions to food safety.

What's happening

Some excerpts from the House floor, courtesy of the House Web site. Rangel amendment on liberalizing trade with Cuba passes with voice vote but further questions on adoption of the amendment put off until later today. Cardoza amendment on transferring border inspectors to USDA was withdrawn.


9:56 A.M. -
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rangel amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
9:42 A.M. -
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 574, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rangel amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Rangel.
An amendment numbered 12 printed in Part B of House Report 110-261 to remove certain banking restrictions related to Cuba's payment for agricultural purchases from U.S. producers. It also authorizes direct transfers between Cuban banks and U.S. banks and allows visas to be issued to conduct activities related to purchasing U.S. agricultural goods.

9:28 A.M. -
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 574, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boustany amendment.
Amendment offered by Mr. Boustany.
An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part B of House Report 110-261 to state that in the case of sweet potatoes, Risk Management Agency Pilot Program data shall not be considered for purposes of determining production for the 2005-2006 Farm Service Agency Crop Disaster Program.
By unanimous consent, the Cardoza amendment was withdrawn.
9:21 A.M. -
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 574, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cardoza amendment, pending reservation of a point of order.
Amendment offered by Mr. Cardoza.
An amendment numbered 5 printed in Part B of House Report 110-261 to require USDA to transition Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees responsible for plant pest inspection duties back to USDA from the Department of Homeland Security in order to better serve the needs of American agriculture.

Rule vote up first

House Republicans will come out strongly against the first vote in consideration of the farm bill, which will be the vote on the "rule" for the debate. Link here.

At the Republican conference this morning, members sounded united in their objection to a tax on foreign owned companies that was added to the bill, one source close to the committee said. Republicans are saying it is a tax increase and Democrats are saying they are closing a tax loophole.

There are GOP members who are reluctant to vote against the rule because they favor the farm bill, but look for near unanimous GOP opposition on the first vote. Democrats may well have enough votes to pass the rule, assuming few Democrats peel off and vote with the GOP.

There will be an hour debate on the rule vote. After the vote, assuming the Democrats hold sway, the Kind-Flake amendment will be taken up. That amendment would sharply limit farm subsidies.One Washington lobbyist said the Kind-Flake may get more support than expected. If it somehow is approved, the farm bill would be withdrawn at that point.

Once Republicans had a chance to vote against the rule, those Republican members who were going to vote for the House Committee's farm bill will probably still vote for it.

Another amendment to watch is one from the Ways and Means Committee chairman Rangel that would liberalize sales terms for agriculture exports to Cuba. President Bush has threatened a veto on other bills if this is attached to it. Passage of this amendment may complicate final passage of the farm bill because Floridian House members might vote against the legislation.

Remember the House Agriculture Committee farm bill amendment that would transfer border inspectors back to USDA from DHS? That was stripped out at the last minute because of objections by Homeland Security. If it will be a part of the bill, one lobbyist said it will have to pass on the House floor; Rep. Dennis Cardoza will offer an amendment seeking to accomplish just that. While most U.S. produce association support the move of inspectors from DHS to USDA, Lee Frankel of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas believes DHS has made good progress and worries that U.S. growers will try to manipulate the USDA to their advantage and the detriment of imports if border inspectors move back to the agency.

"It's worth staying up for tonight because it will be spirited," one lobbyist said. The debate will likely spillover tomorrow morning and try to finish by noon or 1 p.m, one lobbyist speculated.

FB amendments

TK: From the office of Rep Dennis Cardoza.The Rules Committee has determined 31 amendments considered today in the farm bill debate. Note Cardoza amendment on moving APHIS staff back to USDA from DHS.

The rule makes in order the following 31 amendments printed in the Rules Committee report.

1. Kind (WI): The Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment will reform the farmer safety net to work better for small farmers at lower cost, reallocate funding to nutrition, conservation, specialty crops and healthy foods, rural development, and programs that benefit socially disadvantaged farmers., (40 minutes)

2. Frank (MA)/Bachus (AL): The amendment strikes five sections from Title V of the bill (Agribusiness loan eligibility, Loan-to-asset value requirements, Population limit for single-family housing loans, Majority farmer control requirement, and Borrower stock requirement), which expand the lending authority of the Farm Credit System., (10 minutes)

3. Goodlatte (VA): The amendment streamlines and adopts one set of terms and conditions of easements for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP), Farmland and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), and Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP). , (10 minutes)

4. Lucas (OK): The amendment would make livestock producers eligible for livestock assistance programs regardless of whether they had Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance (NAP) coverage., (10 minutes)

5. Cardoza (CA): The amendment requires USDA to transition Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees responsible for plant pest inspection duties back to USDA from the Department of Homeland Security in order to better serve the needs of American agriculture., (10 minutes)

6. Boustany (LA)/Alexander (LA): The amendment states that in the case of sweet potatoes, Risk Management Agency Pilot Program data shall not be considered for purposes of determining production for the 2005-2006 Farm Service Agency Crop Disaster Program., (10 minutes)

7. Jackson-Lee (TX): The amendment is intended to express the sense of Congress that the food available to schoolchildren under the school breakfast and lunch program should be selected so as to reduce the incidence of juvenile obesity and to maximize nutritional value., (10 minutes)

8. Hastings (FL): The amendment adds a new section for "Pollinator Protection" that authorizes research funding to reduce North American pollinator decline and understand Colony Collapse Disorder. This amendment also adjusts USDA conservation programs to put a greater emphasis on increasing habitat and establishing cropping and integrated pest management practices to protect native and managed pollinators. , (10 minutes)

9. Arcuri (NY)/Welch (VT)/Gillibrand (NY): The amendment expresses the Sense of Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should use existing authority when determining the Class I milk price mover to take into account the increased cost of production, including energy and feed. , (10 minutes)

10. Welch (VT): The amendment encourages schools to submit plans for implementation to the Secretary that include locally grown foods, in areas where geographically available. , (10 minutes)

11. Welch (VT)/Arcuri (NY): The amendment adds a provision to the review process for the Federal Milk Marketing Order Review Commission to include an evaluation of cost of production variables, including cost of feed and cost of fuel. Additionally, it encourages the Commission to be regionally diverse, and moves up the date from 24 months to 18 months after the enactment of this bill. , (10 minutes)

12. Rangel (NY): The amendment removes certain banking restrictions related to Cuba’s payment for agricultural purchases from U.S. producers. It also authorizes direct transfers between Cuban banks and U.S. banks and allows visas to be issued to conduct activities related to purchasing U.S. agricultural goods., (10 minutes)

13. Boehner (OH): The amendment would replace the current daily posted county prices (PCPs) used for determining loan deficiency payment rates and repayment rates for marketing assistance loans with a monthly PCP for each crop. It would revise requirements for establishing a producer’s loan deficiency payment (LDP) and loan repayment rate to be based on the month that beneficial interest is lost. The amendment aims to address farmers taking advantage of short-term market events to lock in artificially high loan deficiency payments, while actually selling the commodity later at prices well above the loan rate. , (10 minutes)

14. Johnson, Eddie Bernice (TX): The amendment adds the additional point to Subtitle B of the research title that emphasis should be placed on proposals that examine the efficacy of current agriculture policies in promoting the health and welfare of economically disadvantaged populations (in addition to supporting research/ health promotion to “solve the problems of nutritional inadequacy)., (10 minutes)

15. Manzullo (IL): The amendment exempts the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) from the $60,000 and $125,000 payment limitations, resetting it to the $450,000 limitation that is in the current law., (10 minutes)

16. Blumenauer (OR): The amendment would make conservation easements purchased through a transferable development rights program eligible for grants under the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program. Transferable Development Rights (TDR) programs are a voluntary, market-based tool used by states and cities to protect farmland, private property rights, and taxpayer dollars by allowing the transfer of development rights from one parcel of land to another., (10 minutes)

17. Latham (IA):
, The amendment amends the Household Water Well System Program, which makes grants to non-profit organizations to finance the construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individually owned household water well systems in rural areas for individuals with low or moderate incomes, to allow the use of in-kind contributions to meet the required federal funding match of 10%. The amendment also clarifies that in-kind contributions used to meet the match can be for no purpose other than to administer the water well grant program., (10 minutes)

18. Berry (AR): The amendment will prohibit non-profit organizations with more than $50 million in direct public support from receiving conservation payments., (10 minutes)

19. Davis, Danny (IL)/Kirk (IL): The amendment strikes the sugar sections in the commodity title as well as the feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers, extending current programs until 2012., (10 minutes)

20. Terry (NE): The amendment creates a competitive demonstration project designed to provide proof of concept in supplementing corn with sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock., (10 minutes)

21. Udall, Mark (CO): The amendment reduces the direct payment rate for cotton by 2/3 of a cent. The resulting savings would be used to fund enrollment of 224,000 additional acres in the Grasslands Reserve Program., (10 minutes)

22. Wu (OR): The amendment broadens the eligible universities by adding that universities that do work in alternative energy related fields, such as agriculture, chemistry, environmental sciences, bioengineering, biochemistry, natural resources and public policy are eligible for the biofuels from biomass internship program., (10 minutes)

23. Clay (MO): The amendment would make grants to eligible entities to assist in purchasing operating organic gardens or greenhouses in urban areas for growing fruits and vegetables., (10 minutes)

24. Israel (NY)/Doyle (PA): The amendment would eliminate the sale of random source animals for research and will prohibit the marketing of medical devices by using live animals in demonstrations to market such devices., (10 minutes)

25. Putnam (FL): The amendment prohibits individuals from receiving farm conservation payments if their income exceeds $1 million, unless 75% of the income comes from farm income. , (10 minutes)

26. Bordallo (GU): The amendment authorizes a grants program to assist the land grant institutions in the U.S. territories in upgrading facilities and equipment in the agricultural and food sciences. It authorizes appropriations for five years in the amount of $8 million per year. It authorizes USDA to vary award amounts and to establish competitive criteria for the program., (10 minutes)

27. Cooper (TN): The amendment will comprehensively reform the federal crop insurance program, including the Administration’s farm bill crop insurance proposals. This amendment saves approximately $4 billion while adding resources to the Grassland Reserve Program., (10 minutes)

28. Emanuel (IL): The amendment directs the USDA to investigate which estates have been receiving payments in the name of dead farmers and recoup payments made in the name of deceased individuals., (10 minutes)

29. Hall, John (NY): The amendment would establish a program to encourage environmentally responsible practices on actively farmed muck soil land., (10 minutes)

30. Hodes (NH)/Arcuri (NY): The amendment authorizes a grant program for state and local communities and governments known as the Community Wood Energy Program to use low-grade wood biomass in community wood energy systems for state and locally owned businesses such as schools, town halls, and courthouses., (10 minutes)

31. Shuler (NC): The amendment allows non-industrial private forest lands to be eligible for emergency restoration funds if the Secretary determines that insect or disease poses an imminent threat of loss or damage to those lands., (10 minutes)

The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Cardoza making the case

TK: Just sliding across my inbox, a strong reproof to Republicans from the office of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif.

Statement from Rep. Dennis Cardoza at Rules Committee hearing responding to allegations that the 2007 Farm Bill raises taxes:

“If you want to kill this farm bill over an ideological difference of opinion about what is or is not a tax increase, that funds only a tiny portion of the overall bill, let’s have that debate. If Republicans want to support international corporations that are cheating on their taxes before American farmers, I am comfortable taking that to farmers from the Midwest to both coasts who overwhelming support the 2007 Farm Bill.” Cardoza continued, “If we are not careful, this country will become a net importer of food; last year there was no surplus. I won’t let happen on my watch. We cannot abandon farm country.”

The 2007 Farm Bill closes a tax loophole that allows foreign-based companies located in tax havens to avoid tax on income earned in the United States by their U.S.-based subsidiaries. Five years ago, this Administration and its own Treasury Department identified this earnings stripping as a tax abuse.

Throw in immigration for good measure

Pic from United.....Caption: Tom Stenzel, president & CEO of United Fresh Produce Association, joins House Ag. Committee Chairman Peterson and Representatives Cardoza and Costa to thank them on behalf of the specialty crops industry

It seems industry priorities take multiple years and numerous WPPC conferences to see any movement on Capitol Hill. Now it seems one industry priority after another is falling in sequence.
More equitable funding for f/v in the farm bill (check)
A resolution to the country of origin labeling issue(check)

I just visited with Tom Stenzel of United Fresh about the process to come up with a COOL resolution. (more on that later) I asked, why not throw immigration into the farm bill for good measure? I kidded him that United and the industry are running out of issues and suggested Congress may as well tack farm labor reform to the farm bill. In fact, he said there is serious consideration in the Senate to attach AgJobs to the farm bill. Well, we know food safety isn't going away, at least.

Peterson presser

Here is a 10-minute audio link from the House Agriculture Committee lovefest press conference yesterday. You will hear House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson talk about the process. He makes the point that the end product was better than predicted, as he once said everyone may be equally unhappy with the budget-restricted farm bill. While there are things some people wanted more of - farm program reform, more conservation funds, more f/v money - by and large, people are on board. You will also hear the remarks of ranking member Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, remarks from a member from Oregon not on the committee applauding the inclusiveness of this farm bill. Finally, you will hear the remarks of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, who has been so instrumental as chair of the hort subcommittee in securing mandatory funds for f/v priorities.

It is good to see genuine bipartisanship in action for agriculture issues. Now we will see if supporters of the farm bill can herd it through the full House without major changes.

Alliance: strong support for farm bill

From the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance:



SPECIALTY CROP FARM BILL ALLIANCE SECURES $1.7 BILLION IN HOUSE FARM BILL
‘Great Achievement for Specialty Crop Producers’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 120 specialty crop organizations, announced that specialty crop producers are set to receive $1.7 billion over five years, due to the passage of the Farm Bill out of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. This is a great achievement for specialty crop producers. The first draft of the Farm Bill offered much less, $685 million over five years for specialty crop producers. This $1 billion increase in funding is a clear sign that House leaders have recognized the crucial role specialty crop producers play in the agricultural economy.
Over the last two years, this coalition has outlined the legislative priorities and needs for specialty crops that have been supported by more than 119 Members of Congress. The coalition credits the bipartisan support of their priorities coupled with the strong leadership of Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman Collin Peterson and House leadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the positive consideration received by the House Agriculture Committee. The SCFBA will support passage of the bill (H.R. 2419) when it comes to a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives later this month.
A spokesman issued the following statement on behalf of the SCFBA:
"Specialty crop producers account for nearly half of all cash crop receipts in America. Throughout this debate, we have supported improving the competitive environment for all producers with a focus on producing a safer, healthier and more nutritious food supply. The passage of this Farm Bill in the House Agriculture Committee represents a great start and a strong investment by recognizing the priorities of specialty crop producers. We appreciate the leadership of Congressman Dennis Cardoza, Chairman Collin Peterson and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and their advocacy for our priorities. We look forward to enhancing the investment for specialty crop producers in the U.S. Senate."

The SCFBA is a geographically and commodity diverse group of more than 120 organizations. Specialty crop producers all across the nation will be able to provide consumers with a steady supply of domestically produced specialty crops through the programs established in H.R.2419 to expand the consumption of fruits and vegetables, expand specialty crop research, control of plant pests and support for grower initiatives to improve competitiveness.