02/07/07 A negative for specialty crops

Washington Ag February 7, 2007 Specialty crop producers may like much of what the USDA proposes for a 2007 Farm Bill, what with funding for specialty crop research, marketing and efforts aimed at removing non-tariff trade barriers. But even Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns acknowledges there is something fruit and vegetable growers won't like. That is USDA's proposal to end the restriction which prevents the planting of fruits and vegetables on base acres of program crop growers who receive subsidies on that land. Johanns believes the U.S. has no choice in the matter because of a World Trade Organization ruling. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says elimination of that planting restriction would impact the potato industry. There is no crop subsidy for potatoes but; Voigt: "You know essentially folks who are growing program crops would now be able to plant potatoes and still receive subsidies on that ground. So it is really putting the current potato growers at a disadvantage to any program growers who are now going to grow potatoes. So we are very concerned about that." Voigt says decent prices the past two years would attract producers to potatoes but that added production would drive down prices and have a big impact on the potato industry. I'm Bob Hoff.