Specialty crop producers are hoping for a five-year Farm Bill after the August recess

specialty Farm Bill 1280.jpg

Lawmakers are on recess this month, but specialty crop growers hope they return to the hill with a renewed push to complete a five-year Farm Bill.

The Northwest Horticulture Council knows that there are a lot of moving parts in agriculture right now and urges you to speak up if you need help.

According to Riley Bushue, “Regardless of their commodity, but certainly for apples, cherries, and pears, which we’re focused on, they should just touch base directly with their county FSA office. The staff there does Yeoman’s work pulling all this stuff together and knows the ins and outs of all these programs best and can help kind of guide growers through and get information from growers that they need to make this all happen.”

Bushue says that he is hopeful a new Farm Bill can get through this year.

House ag lawmakers are hoping to get their version to the floor sometime next month when they return from the August recess.

Related Stories
Farmers are in the midst of harvest as the government descends into a shutdown and the Farm Bill expires. Key federal departments, crop reporting, and aid programs important to the agricultural sector are now on hold.
Crop-specific shifts and strong prices highlight the variability of this year’s fruit and tree nut harvest, according to USDA data.
“The farm economy is, if it isn’t in a crisis, it’s well on its way to one right now.”
California rancher and former NCBA President Kevin Kester joined House Republicans on Tuesday to tout provisions in the Big, Beautiful Bill that support family ranches.
Lawmakers have until September 30 to shore up federal spending for next year, or risk a government shutdown. The Farm Bill is also set to expire the same day.

Agriculture Shows
Crop yield champions David Hula from Virginia and Randy Dowdy from Georgia are back for another season with the aim of schooling more growers across the country in their winning ways.
“Texas Agriculture Matters” is a fun, informative look at the role of agriculture in our daily lives. The show utilizes the trademark wit and wisdom of its host Commissioner Sid Miller — an 8th-generation farmer-rancher and 12-time World Champion rodeo cowboy — to explore a new Texas ag-related topic each week.
From barnyards and back roads to metros and highways, Simply Southern TV on RFD-TV explores all of Alabama to bring you the best stories on farming, gardening, forestry, rural living, and youth in agriculture.
In the first week of each month, “Down Home Virginia,” produced by the Virginia Farm Bureau, airs its half-hour program. Other states’ Farm Bureaus featured on different weeks include Texas, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Idaho, and New York, and news from the American Farm Bureau from Washington, D.C.
Created by former Louisiana Farm Bureau PR Director and former host Regnal Wallace, “This Week in Louisiana Agriculture,” is one of the state’s longest-running TV programs.