Farm Bill: Update

Jonathan Moore
ASHS National Issues Consultant

As of the week of 21 April, we are in a holding pattern awaiting final passage of the 2007 Farm Bill. The measure is currently in conference between House and Senate negotiators—consisting of selected Members and Agriculture Committee staff. A few weeks ago, the parlor game in Washington was gauging when both houses of Congress would meet to iron out differences with this multi-layered legislation (HR 2419). Now that Members are conversing, the big question is when will this conference reach agreement? Will differences over tax breaks and additional funds for disaster assistance be resolved tonight, next week, or early May? Will there be another week or two-week extension? We shall know soon. Meanwhile, ASHS is keeping a close eye on those items that have an impact on specialty crop research, both in the lab and applied tasks in the field. Specifically these items include: specialty crop block grants to the states; specialty crop research initiative (SCRI) competitive grants; funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, & Economics agency (which oversees competitive grants, and the Agriculture Research Service); continued funding of the National Research Initiative; additional monies for government purchases of fruits and vegetables; and Hatch Act funds impacting land grant experiment stations.

Genesis Behind ASHS Letter Demonstrates Power of Visibility in Washington

by Jonathan Moore / ASHS National Issues Consultant

As policy consultant and liaison to ASHS’ National Issues Task Force, several members asked me to recount the genesis of our recent letter to Congress supporting the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). This March 3rd letter was addressed to 11 U.S. Senators assigned to work with House colleagues on crafting final components to the 2007 Farm Bill. As a society committed to ensuring the flow of basic and applied research funds for its members, advocating SCRI’s benefits was central to our mission.

The professional tours offered as part of this year's ASHS Annual Conference attendees provide a window into the workings of Florida's diverse horticultural activities. 

Two full-day and one half-day professional tours are scheduled. and include:

Sunday, July 20 - attendees can journey to Miami, Florida, for the day and visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and a Tropical Nursery.

Wednesday, July 23 - a mid-conference excursion takes attendees into the world of commercial plant propagation on a visit to three of Florida's finest horticulture businesses.

Friday, July 25 - attendees are encouraged to extend their conference stay an extra day to visit the “Foliage Capital of the World,” Apopka, Florida.

Detailed descriptions for each of these tours are given below.