SCFBA calls for additional $3 billion in aid

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) has called for additional relief for specialty crop production in the final year-end economic assistance package negotiated by Congressional leaders.

In a Dec. 18 letter to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate, the group requested an additional $3 billion investment in USDA’s Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program.

SCFBA noted in a news release that specialty crop production represents nearly half the farm gate value of American agriculture.

“The Alliance has been communicating with your staffs throughout the year-end negotiations, advocating that Congress include economic assistance for specialty crops in the form of additional funding for MASC along with adjustments to the program’s payment limits,” the letter (.pdf) read in part. “It is now clear that this request has been left out of the final package negotiated by Congressional leaders.”

Applications for MASC assistance opened Dec. 11.

SCFBA called the $2 billion available in payments capped at $125,000 per eligible producer “an important first step” but said more is required.

“Shortly after the FARM Act was introduced in the House of Representatives in October, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance put together a proposed structure for economic aid for our industry,” the letter read. “We shared this proposal with the agriculture and appropriations committees in the House and Senate and requested that if Congress were to advance an economic assistance package for agriculture that it be inclusive of specialty crops.

“Subsequently, in recognition of the severe and unique challenges confronting specialty crop growers in the United States, the Department of Agriculture announced the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. This $2 billion in economic assistance that is being provided through MASC is an important down payment for our growers, and except for the structure of the payment limits, it is substantially similar to what the Alliance proposed in October. We are grateful to the department for recognizing this immediate need and for taking this important first step; however, more is required.”

Along with $3 billion more in funding, SCFBA requested changes to the program’s payment limitations.

“Specialty crops include nutrient dense-fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, which should make up more than half of an American’s diet, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” the letter continued. “It is imperative that specialty crop growers in the United States receive economic aid similar to that which Congress is providing to row crops, which include payment limits twice the level of those announced for specialty crops in MASC. Accordingly, we are requesting that each of you support our request to the Department of Agriculture for an additional $3 billion in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation for the MASC program and that it adopt the payment limits used for CFAP-2, including the three-entity multiplier.”

CFAP is the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

The letter also reiterated the need for a new, five-year farm bill.

“Another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill disproportionately affects specialty crop growers by further delaying these investments in an industry that is vital to the health and wellbeing of all Americans,” the letter read.

SCFBA is a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products. Specialty crops account for $64.7 billion in farm gate value and 30% of farm cash receipts for crops, according to the SCFBA.

In early 2023, the alliance released a set of key policy priorities as part of its Farm Bill recommendations (.pdf).

The organization is chaired by International Fresh Produce Association CEO Cathy Burns; National Potato Council CEO Kam Quarles; Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; and Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers.