AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry Florida Gov. Charlie Crist California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer today sent a joint letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Agriculture Committees to advocate the priorities of the ‘Big Four’ states for the 2007 Farm Bill.In their letter the governors called on lawmakers to address important issues facing the farming community asking for additional funding and resources to be dedicated to six key priorities. These priorities include:
• Specialty crop programs
• Tools to combat invasive species and threats to plants and animals
• Expansion of crop insurance coverage and safety net programs
• Support for conservation programs and initiatives
• Maintenance of the USDA Food Stamp Program and additional promotion of health diet programs
• Expansion of the cultivation of organic products
Texas California Florida and New York combined have 174 million acres of cropland with products valued at more than $65 billion. The four states together are home to 97.4 million individuals representing 34.2 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product and employing more than 46.1 million Americans.
A copy of the letter is attached.
• Tools to combat invasive species and threats to plants and animals
• Expansion of crop insurance coverage and safety net programs
• Support for conservation programs and initiatives
• Maintenance of the USDA Food Stamp Program and additional promotion of health diet programs
• Expansion of the cultivation of organic products
Texas California Florida and New York combined have 174 million acres of cropland with products valued at more than $65 billion. The four states together are home to 97.4 million individuals representing 34.2 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product and employing more than 46.1 million Americans.
A copy of the letter is attached.
GOVERNORS
June 26 2007
The Honorable Tom Harkin The Honorable Collin Peterson
Chairman Chairman
Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Agriculture
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20515
June 26 2007
The Honorable Tom Harkin The Honorable Collin Peterson
Chairman Chairman
Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Agriculture
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20515
The Honorable Saxby Chambliss The Honorable Bob Goodlatte
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Agriculture
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20515
Dear Chairman Harkin Senator Chambliss Chairman Peterson and Representative Goodlatte:
A strong 21st century Farm Bill is a targeted investment that enhances the health of our communities and environment and provides the foundation to supply our nation with a safe dependable and affordable food supply. In addition to increasing the strength and security of our farming and ranching communities the farm bill provides nutrition dollars for our schools and communities research dollars for our universities and solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating air and water pollution for our residents. Every American is a stakeholder in the farm bill.
As Governors of the country’s four most populous states we represent more than 174 million acres of cropland with products valued at more than $65 billion. While our states are very diverse we also have much in common. We believe in the vision of healthy people a clean environment and a robust agricultural sector. As your committees begin consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill we would like you to consider several issues of importance to our states.
In addition to these six priorities our states have many other issues of importance that will be provided to the Committees through our respective congressional delegations.
Ranking Member Ranking Member
Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Committee on Agriculture
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20515
Dear Chairman Harkin Senator Chambliss Chairman Peterson and Representative Goodlatte:
A strong 21st century Farm Bill is a targeted investment that enhances the health of our communities and environment and provides the foundation to supply our nation with a safe dependable and affordable food supply. In addition to increasing the strength and security of our farming and ranching communities the farm bill provides nutrition dollars for our schools and communities research dollars for our universities and solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating air and water pollution for our residents. Every American is a stakeholder in the farm bill.
As Governors of the country’s four most populous states we represent more than 174 million acres of cropland with products valued at more than $65 billion. While our states are very diverse we also have much in common. We believe in the vision of healthy people a clean environment and a robust agricultural sector. As your committees begin consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill we would like you to consider several issues of importance to our states.
In addition to these six priorities our states have many other issues of importance that will be provided to the Committees through our respective congressional delegations.
• Specialty Crops: Fruits vegetables nuts horticulture and other specialty products now make up almost 50 percent of the farm gate receipts in this country. Our four states alone contribute over half of this amount and their production is an important component of the agricultural sector in our states. This farm bill should provide increased funding and program flexibility for specialty crop programs including research and development of production harvesting and handling techniques and open up USDA’s commodity conservation and disaster assistance programs in which specialty crop producers have traditionally had limited opportunity to participate. We agree that it is necessary to not only increase funding but also provide a permanent allocation for the Specialty Crop Block Grant that was authorized in the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004. This grant has been used with great success by states to provide a wide array of programs that assist our specialty crop producers to maintain and enhance their competitiveness in the market.
• Invasive Species: Whether it is Citrus Canker in Florida the Asian Longhorned Beetle in New York the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter in California or the Mexican fruit fly in Texas invasive species are a serious problem and require a significant commitment of resources to address. It is essential that the Farm Bill include strong language that provides critical resources in a timely fashion to vigorously respond to and eradicate these threats. Full funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is necessary. It is important that while maintaining funding levels for pest management additional dollars also be provided for prevention efforts on ports and other pathways of entry. As border states we all have increased susceptibility through our ports and borders.
• Crop Insurance: Increasing the amount of risk eligible for crop insurance coverage and expanding the safety net programs for all farmers including crop specific revenue insurance should be part of a final Farm Bill. Also a structure should be established for providing assistance beyond crop insurance after natural disasters. There is a tangible need for a long-term solution to the ad hoc nature of current disaster assistance.
• Conservation: The farm bill must reauthorize and expand funding for all conservation programs as a strategic investment in our nation’s agricultural infrastructure. By increasing outreach and technical assistance funding states can more effectively deliver and target conservation programs to those farmers who want to participate in the most cost effective environmental programs. By bolstering partnerships with cooperating organizations and agencies we enhance the availability of technical assistance. Conserving farmland rangelands and private forests benefits all Americans.
• Nutrition: The Farm Bill must maintain the highly successful Food Stamp Program (FSP) including Food Stamp Nutrition Education as part of efforts to promote healthy eating and help prevent obesity. Despite recent national increases in participation and significant reductions in state error rates challenges within the FSP remain. There are simply too many households eligible for benefits that do not participate particularly among the working poor. States need the flexibility to develop and implement systems that enable more eligible individuals to receive food stamps. It is also essential that the Farm Bill support healthy diets farmers market programs better nutrition and greater access to fruits and vegetables. Expanding initiatives such as the successful Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program will promote achievement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and help to realize our mutual goal to improve nutrition for low-income families and communities for generations to come.
• Nutrition: The Farm Bill must maintain the highly successful Food Stamp Program (FSP) including Food Stamp Nutrition Education as part of efforts to promote healthy eating and help prevent obesity. Despite recent national increases in participation and significant reductions in state error rates challenges within the FSP remain. There are simply too many households eligible for benefits that do not participate particularly among the working poor. States need the flexibility to develop and implement systems that enable more eligible individuals to receive food stamps. It is also essential that the Farm Bill support healthy diets farmers market programs better nutrition and greater access to fruits and vegetables. Expanding initiatives such as the successful Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program will promote achievement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and help to realize our mutual goal to improve nutrition for low-income families and communities for generations to come.
• Organic Agriculture: We support provisions that expand support for organic products allowing our farmers to access this growing and lucrative market. To meet this increasing consumer demand for organic food we should support farmers who have decided to use organic techniques especially those who are transitioning to organic agriculture.
We understand that legislation of this scope and complexity involves a long and arduous process to realize final completion. We hope that as the legislative process continues we can be a resource for you and your staffs as you consider these and many other important issues. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide more information.
We understand that legislation of this scope and complexity involves a long and arduous process to realize final completion. We hope that as the legislative process continues we can be a resource for you and your staffs as you consider these and many other important issues. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide more information.
Sincerely
Governor Eliot Spitzer Governor Charlie Crist
Governor Rick Perry Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor Rick Perry Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
cc: New York Congressional Delegation
Florida Congressional Delegation
Texas Congressional Delegation
California Congressional Delegation
Florida Congressional Delegation
Texas Congressional Delegation
California Congressional Delegation
