07/27/07 Specialty crops get attention in farm bill

Farm and Ranch July 27, 2007 For the first time in farm bill history, the farm bill passed out of the House Agriculture Committee and debated on the House floor Thursday, provided 1.7 billion dollars in mandatory funding for programs to improve the competitiveness of specialty crops including potatoes. Pasco potato grower and vice president of the National Potato Council Ed Schneider, who has been investing time and testimony in the long haul support of farm bill restructuring, says they are pleased by the House Ag Committee's action and appreciative of the leadership demonstrated by Representative Larsen of Washington, one of the original cosponsors of the specialty crop legislation. Of course there is still a long ways to go before a farm bill is finalized and Washington State Potato Commission assistant executive director Karen Bonaudi says; Bonaudi: "As all major bills they tend to draw some controversy and we just hope that whatever the outcome is, that specialty crops don't forfeit the gains they have made this time." Specialty crop growers are not asking for direct payments like program crop producers now receive. John Keeling, executive vice president of the National Potato Council says the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which he co-chairs, is focusing on research, marketing, conservation, nutrition, pest and disease programs and local-priority block grants as strategies for ensuring a stronger agriculture and a healthier America. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.