Farm groups urge Congress to act as farm losses mount

A broad coalition of specialty crop organizations sounding the alarm about worsening farm economics in rural America, urging Congress to act as financial pressures continue to intensify.

In a letter sent to lawmakers, groups including the Organic Trade Association, U.S. Apple Association, International Fresh Produce Association, the Georgia and Florida Fruit and Vegetable Associations, and Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance warn that U.S. farmers face an existential economic threat.

The letter cites rising bankruptcies, limited access to financing and years of record-high input costs paired with historically low commodity and specialty crop prices — conditions that have driven widespread negative margins and losses nearing $100 billion nationwide.

The letter, posted by the American Farm Bureau, was signed by 56 U.S. farm advocacy organizations in an effort to send a unified message to Congress as policymakers debate potential relief. POLITICO recently reported that Congress is considering up to $15 billion in relief payments for growers.

Meanwhile, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has put a hard number on its long-standing request for grower assistance, calling for $5 billion in dedicated aid for specialty crop producers and describing the apparent omission of additional support as “deeply concerning.”

“At a time when producers face rising costs, domestic labor shortages and severe market and weather challenges, this omission is deeply concerning,” the alliance’s co-chairs said in a recent statement.

“Specialty crops are vital to healthy diets and rural economies. Yet producers continue to lack the economic support they need to withstand ongoing disruptions and remain competitive.”

Specialty crops — including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery, greenhouse and floriculture products — generate more than $75 billion annually, account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales and play a central role in rural economies nationwide.

Concerns have also been raised about the USDA’s Farmer Bridge Assistance program, announced in December, which allocated $11 billion to row crops while reserving just $1 billion for specialty crops and other commodities. Details on eligibility, payment formulas and timing have yet to be finalized.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance 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.

With negotiations to re-open the government setting a Jan. 30 funding deadline, farm groups say there may still be time for Congress to allocate additional resources to the specialty and organic crop sector.