Today, the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture held a hearing to review implementation of Title X of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. Chairman Dennis Cardoza of California called today’s hearing to examine the implementation of Farm Bill provisions regarding specialty crops, organic agriculture, and plant pest and disease management.
"I appreciate the testimony provided today by representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the specialty crop portion of the Farm Bill," said Chairman Cardoza. "It is clear that USDA has much more work to do to fully implement Congress’s direction in the Farm Bill, and I intend to hold additional hearings into these issues."
"Specialty crop and organic producers across the nation have the opportunity to benefit from the Farm Bill, but only if the integrity of the programs is protected," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Jean Schmidt of Ohio. "It is crucial that we all do our part by ensuring these programs are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner."
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 is the first Farm Bill to contain a separate title for issues related to specialty crops and organic agriculture. The bill dedicated almost $3 billion in funding over five years to these areas, including nutrition, farmers markets, plant, pest and disease management, trade, and conservation.
Information on the Horticulture and Organic Agriculture title of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 can be found on the Committee website at: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/inside/Legislation/110/FB/Conf/Title_X_fs.pdf.
The opening statement of Ms. Pegg is available on the Committee website at http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.
Panel I
Ms. Rayne, Pegg, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
* Accompanied by Ms. Cindy Smith, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Witnesses:
http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
