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Plea for specialty crop funding in next Farm Bill

A professor of horticulture encouraged members of the House Ag Committee to invest in specialty crops during a recent Farm Bill listening session near Decatur, Illinois.

Dr. David Kopsell with Illinois State University said on behalf of specialty crop growers and the American Society for Horticultural Science, he’d like to endorse inclusion of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Organic Research and Education Initiative, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and Specialty Crop block grants in the 2018 Farm Bill.

“Specialty crop research funding is essential to ensure the future improvements in specialty crop production to provide national food security, ensure economic sustainability, and opportunities for both rural and urban communities, sustain a growing world population, and also adapt to a changing environment.”

Kopsell also told Committee members specialty crops represent half of total U.S. crop value annually, while exports earn about $20 billion.

Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.