House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) delivered the following opening statement at today's full committee hearing, “An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry.”
Remarks as prepared:
Good morning, and welcome to today’s hearing. I want to begin by thanking Ranking Member Craig for her partnership in hosting this bipartisan hearing. I also want to thank our colleagues for their participation and continued commitment to work together on behalf of American agriculture.
Most importantly, I want to extend my sincere thanks to our witnesses. We know that your time is valuable, and your decision to be here today to share your perspectives, experiences, and concerns is greatly appreciated. As we examine the current landscape of the specialty crop industry, your firsthand insights are essential to make sure our work is informed by those who live and breathe these challenges every day.
Specialty crops play a crucial, and often underappreciated, role in the success of U.S. agriculture. Fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts provide nutritious, high-quality food that supports the health of our population at home and abroad. Beyond the plate, nursery crops and floriculture industries contribute to our quality of life, beautifying our communities and supporting local economies. From the flower beds in our neighborhoods to the produce aisles in our grocery stores, specialty crops touch our lives in countless ways.
However, the very diversity that defines this industry can also present unique challenge in policy development. From ensuring adequate risk management tools, to supporting effective research, the specialty crop industry requires thoughtful solutions to nuanced challenges. Producers navigate a complex web of pest and disease threats, rising costs, regulatory constraints, and global competition, all while trying to meet evolving consumer expectations.
Over the years, this Committee has worked to create those thoughtful solutions through the creation of specific programs that support the sector, and by working across titles to improve program delivery for specialty crop producers. We recognize that the challenges of a citrus producer in California look different than those of a wheat farmer in Kansas, and we believe that our agricultural policies should reflect those differences.
As we hear more on what it means to support the industry in a meaningful and effective way today, it is timely to highlight the substantial investments made via budget reconciliation to support our specialty crop producers. A few examples include:
- A historic investment of an additional $95 million per year in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a competitive grant program that provides resources for research and extension projects that ensure the specialty industry is not being sidelined.
- An additional $15 million increase for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, enabling state departments of agriculture to work with their producers to enhance their competitiveness.
- Another $15 million in increased funding to the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program, which is essential is safeguarding American agriculture from invasive pests and diseases that can be particularly devastating to specialty crop producers.
- And funding was doubled for market development programs to help support export growth for agricultural commodities and to ultimately return to an agricultural trade surplus, which we know is particularly important for the horticulture industry.
These investments represent a substantial step in rising to the occasion of assisting our specialty crop producers. But investment alone is not enough. We also need to ensure these programs are accessible, effective, and responsive to real-world conditions.
Today’s hearing is an opportunity to take stock of where we are, hear directly from stakeholders, and identify where we can come together to find workable solutions that support this essential sector.
Thank you again to our witnesses for being here, and thank you to my colleagues for your attention and engagement. I look forward to a productive discussion and to working together to ensure a bright future for America’s specialty crop producers.
