SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 573 words

COMMITTEE: SENATE AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY

HEADLINE: 2002 FARM BILL

TESTIMONY-BY: ADAM H. PUTNAM R-FL, REPRESENTATIVE

BODY:
July 17, 2001

Statement Representative Adam H. Putnam R-FL

Before the House Agriculture Committee Hearing to Review the Farm Bill

I wish to thank the Committee for holding this important hearing to review federal agricultural policies for American fruit and vegetable growers or "specialty crop" producers for the upcoming Farm Bill. As a significant contributor to our nation's agricultural production and balance of trade, it is extremely important that the issues affecting fruits and vegetables play a major role in the development of the Farm Bill. Non-program crops including fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural crops represent 24% of U.S. agriculture's commodity sales. I applaud provisions within the Committee's draft to respond to agricultural needs of specialty crop producers. These programs include retention of the Flex Acre prohibition, expansion of the Market Access Program, increased conservation funding, and emergency pest and disease exclusion.

It is important to understand that the fruit and vegetable industry did not call for any direct market assistance payments, instead focused heavily on expansion of related agricultural programs to assist their needs. Chief among these was expansion of conservation programs to meet the unique and growing needs of fruit and vegetable producers. The Committee's draft increased the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to $1.2 billion. In order to assure adequate access to this critical conservation program, a specific portion of EUIP funds should be set aside specialty crops producers. Furthermore the program should be adjusted to meet the unique environmental challenges of specialty crop by including pest and disease management as a conservation criterion.

The Market Access Program (MAP) was increased by $90 million to $180 million under the Committee's draft, in a large part, I understand to respond to the needs of the specialty crop community. However, with roughly only one third of the present program currently being awarded to specialty crop producers, it is recommended that the entire $90 million in additional MAP funding specifically be designated for specialty crops.

The Committee's draft also addressed the critical need for USDA to have the ability to respond to emergency outbreaks of pest and disease - and I want to underscore the importance, and appreciation for, this provision. However, long-term preventative measures such as funding of $50 million for a Pest Detection and Surveillance Program to combat pests and disease before they take hold is also imperative.

Finally, additional resources for agricultural research are necessary to allow American producers to respond to agricultural challenges and allow our farmers and ranchers to compete in a world market. Included among these research priorities should be an emphasis on the development of mechanical harvesting to allow our fruit and vegetable growers to compete in a world market. Furthermore, Rural Development funds should be dedicated for the construction of farm worker housing to meet the crucial need for housing especially in the fruit and vegetable growing community.

I thank the Chairman for his efforts to respond to the challenges facing all agricultural producers including growers of specialty crops, and I look forward to working with the Committee in the weeks to come to meet those goals.



LOAD-DATE: July 18, 2001