BUSH ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES BILLION DOLLAR PLAN FOR SPECIALITY CROPS
The Bush administration has issued a farm bill proposal that would increase specialty crop spending by billions of dollars in coming years. The money would fund new school lunches, more trade help, additional research and more.
Who will benefit? Growers who cultivate fruits (like grapes), nuts and vegetables, dubbed “speciality crops” in agricultural circles, will receive a sizable chunk of funding.
Farm bills in the past have devoted most of their attention to subsidized crops like rice, cotton and wheat, but now specialty crops are taking center stage. The proposal includes buying an additional $2.75 billion worth of fruits and vegetables over 10 years for food assistance program, and investing $1 billion over 10 years in a new specialty crop research initiative, delving into areas like pest control and plant breeding.
Congressional hearings on the Farm Bill are expected to begin next month.
Who will benefit? Growers who cultivate fruits (like grapes), nuts and vegetables, dubbed “speciality crops” in agricultural circles, will receive a sizable chunk of funding.
Farm bills in the past have devoted most of their attention to subsidized crops like rice, cotton and wheat, but now specialty crops are taking center stage. The proposal includes buying an additional $2.75 billion worth of fruits and vegetables over 10 years for food assistance program, and investing $1 billion over 10 years in a new specialty crop research initiative, delving into areas like pest control and plant breeding.
Congressional hearings on the Farm Bill are expected to begin next month.
posted at 1:22 PM
<< Home