Specialty Crop Assistance Update
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s
Fruit Grower Report. Specialty crop growers are paying close attention as the USDA announced up to $1 billion in bridge assistance payments available for growers as part of the Specialty Crop Farmers Program.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says the USDA is doing what they can and deadline to register is not far away …
NEWHOUSE … “We don’t have, as you know, all the specifics yet, but we do know that, and this is an important point, all growers need to make sure that they contact their local FSA office by the 13th of March. The deadline, I believe, is 5pm Eastern.”
That would be 2pm Pacific time.
But Newhouse says do not wait until March 13th to make that call …
NEWHOUSE … “Whether you’ve been engaged or utilized crop insurance or not, it doesn't matter. Growers just need to provide the FSA office with their acreage from 2025 so that they can be involved in the program. And that’s an important deadline. After that, they won’t be eligible.”
As for the money available, Newhouse says they’re working on that number as well…
NEWHOUSE … “There’s an acknowledgement by many members of Congress, me included, that I think the amount is going to be totally inadequate. So, we’re looking at increasing that number. That’s in discussions right now.”
Newhouse says talk in the Senate has been to increase that number up to at least $5 billion, a more appropriate amount for what’s needed.
