HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.
![handle is hein.crs/govefdc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Resear h Service
Inforning the legislative debate sin 1914
0
January 13, 2022
Farm Bill Primer: Horticulture Title and Related Provisions
Beginning in 2008, enacted farm bill legislation has
included a Horticulture title covering specialty crops and
certified organic products. Over the years, this title has
included provisions supporting locally sourced products
(not limited to crops) and hemp cultivation. Upon
enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(P.L. 115-334; 2018 farm bill), projected outlays for the
Horticulture title totaled $1.0 billion (FY2019-FY2023),
accounting for less than 0.5% of total projected farm bill
spending. Support for these sectors, however, is not limited
to the Horticulture title but is also contained within other
farm bill titles, covering a range of programs administered
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This In
Focus provides an overview of selected 2018 farm bill
provisions and issues for the next farm bill related to
specialty crops, organically produced and locally sourced
products, and hemp (for descriptions, see text box).
Specialty Crops
The 2018 farm bill reauthorized and expanded funding for
many of the existing USDA programs supporting fruits,
vegetables, and other specialty crops. In the Horticulture
title, provisions included the Specialty Crop Block Grants
to states, Specialty Crop Market News data collection, food
safety education initiatives, and chemical regulation and
information collection. Provisions in other 2018 farm bill
titles included the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and
other USDA programs supporting emergency citrus disease
research (Research title); USDA purchases of fresh fruits
and vegetables for use in domestic nutrition assistance
programs (Nutrition title); federal crop insurance and
supplemental disaster assistance; agricultural trade
promotion; and other marketing programs (various titles).
Issues and Options
Produce industry groups represent a range of crops and
regional interests. In previous farm bills, these groups
tended to support reauthorization and expansion of existing
USDA programs. The next farm bill also could focus on
other legislative priorities within the industry, such as ways
to address continued COVID-19-related supply-chain
disruptions including access to workers and distribution
challenges. While some of these priorities may involve
reforms outside the farm bill, others could be addressed by
increasing grant funding, changing USDA procurement
rules (e.g., H.R. 5309), and expanding research into
mechanization technologies. In addition, legislation
pending before Congress addresses seasonal import
competition in certain regions of the country (e.g., H.R.
4580 and H.R. 3926/S. 2080).
USDA-Certified Organic Agriculture
The 2018 farm bill reauthorized and expanded support for
agricultural products certified and labeled as USDA
Organic. The Horticulture title of the 2018 farm bill
primarily focused on addressing perceived shortcomings in
USDA's organic certification by making changes intended
to enhance enforcement, limit program fraud, and fund
technology upgrades. Other provisions changed the
eligibility and consultation requirements of the National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and reauthorized the
National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program and the
Organic Production and Market Data collection. Provisions
in other 2018 farm bill titles included the Organic
Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (Research
title); transition assistance and incentives for organic
production (Conservation title); and federal crop insurance
and other marketing and promotion support in other titles.
Industry Terms and Definitions
Specialty crops-fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits,
and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture) (7
U.S.C. § 1621 note).
USDA Organic refers to agricultural products certified and
labeled as grown and processed in accordance with USDA
regulations (7 C.F.R. §205) and verified by a USDA-accredited
certifying agent according to USDA's National Organic
Program (NOP). NOP is a voluntary certification program for
producers and handlers that use approved methods and
standards, covering organically produced specialty crops, field
crops, and animal products (e.g., meat and dairy products), as
well as nonfood consumer products.
Locally Sourced Foods-No consensus exists for what
constitutes locally sourced foods. In most cases, USDA farm
programs that support local food systems base program
eligibility on using a statutory definition of locally or regionally
produced agricultural food products as any food product that is
raised, produced, and distributed in the locality or region in
which the final product is marketed where the total distance
that the product is transported is less than 400 miles from the
origin of the product; or ... the State where produced (7
U.S.C. § 1932).
Hemp-the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant,
including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts,
cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers,
whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol
[THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry
weight basis (7 U.S.C. §I 639o).
Issues and Options
The organic industry represents highly diverse interests
with often diverging priorities. Some shared priorities have
focused on USDA not finalizing regulations addressing
transitioning dairy cows, livestock handling and poultry
living conditions, and oversight and enforcement of NOP-
certified products. Some legislative priorities focus on
ttps://crsr](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/govefdc0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)