Specialty Crops Express Disappointment Over Stalled Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry failed to advance the farm bill.

"The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance is grateful to Chairman Boozman for convening today’s markup and for including in his manager’s package an amendment offered by Sen. Schiff to protect the integrity of the definition of specialty crops in USDA programs and services.

We are also grateful to Sen. Lujan for filing an amendment to make the Specialty Crop Emergency Framework mandatory and Sen. Slotkin for filing an amendment to enhance the Federal Crop Insurance Program for specialty crop producers, which is also supported by the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau.

We look forward to working with members of the Senate Agriculture Committee to add the Lujan and Slotkin amendments to the farm bill as the legislative process continues. Despite today’s setback, we remain hopeful the Senate can find a bipartisan path forward to pass the Agriculture Act of 2026."

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