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Federal Legislative Update


ANLA Farm Bill Priorities Advance in the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee Bills


Washington, D.C.— ANLA, and our partners in the


Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, are encouraged by the broad bipartisan support for the 2013 Farm Bill, demonstrated by the Agriculture committees of the U.S. Senate and House. Last week both committees passed their respective version of the bill last week. Te Senate passed their version with a 15-5 vote and the House passed theirs with a 36-10 vote.


Both bills look largely like they did last year – before final passage of a new Farm Bill fell short due to inaction by the U.S. House. Tis year the Senate is reporting about $23 billion in savings over ten years and the House reporting nearly $40 billion in savings. While funds from many programs will be cut in a new Farm Bill, the specialty crop provisions are proposed to receive expanded funding from their 2008 Farm Bill levels. Tese provisions, which are so important to the nursery and floriculture industry, include the Specialty Crop Block Grants (SCBG), Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), Pest and Disease Management (Section 10201), and the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). In addition, SCRI would receive baseline (mandatory) funding moving forward. Te NCPN would be merged into a single program with 10201 – making those funds mandatory, as well. ANLA, along with our alliance partners, has been working closely with the respective agriculture committees to secure support for the specialty crop programs and highlight their successes. “Unlike the traditional payments to row crop agriculture, the specialty crop programs support things like


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research, rapid response to new pest and disease concerns, and marketing all which improve the competitiveness of U.S. products and result in a significant return on investment,” said Joe Bischoff, ANLA’s Director of Government Relations.


ANLA, a Washington, DC-based trade association, represents green industry business professionals seeking market leadership through advocacy with our nation’s government, a community of industry innovators and experts, and unique, profitability-focused programming, products and services. Through the Lighthouse Program, a partnership with green industry state and regional associations, ANLA represents more than 15,000 businesses before Congress and to the White House. The Maine Landscape & Nursery Association, and all its active members, participate in and support ANLA’s Lighthouse Program.


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