After a protracted debate over who will lead the House of Representatives, lawmakers in Washington continue to catch up on their work – including reauthorizing the massive farm bill. It’s a 5-year authorization with a 10-year spending estimate at about $1.5 trillion in farm and food programs. Congressman Bill Huizenga says the bill often forgets Michigan’s specialty crops.
“We’re going to be continuing to watch how specialty crops are treated. A lot of this has been geared, meaning a lot of farm policy has been geared to those big cash crops.”
Huizenga says given diverse crop interests, he’s pushing for changes to the Tree Assistance Program – financial help for tree, bush, and vine growers who suffer natural disasters, disease, and infestations.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure that these federal programs are as flexible enough and actually meet the needs of the agricultural community, rather than just being sort of this formula that nobody can really fit their actual business into.”
The current farm bill expired in September though funding for food programs and production continues through the end of the year. Senator Debbie Stabenow has suggested an extension into at least 2024 while lawmakers complete work on the reauthorization.
