House committee approves Farm Bill, key Vermont priorities included

The US House Agriculture Committee approved a Farm Bill this week on a bipartisan vote of 36-10. The bill is expected to be debated by the full House of Representatives this summer.
Vermont Representative Peter Welch said, ‘This is a good bill for Vermont’s agriculture sector which is vital to the economic health of our state. While good for our farmers, it will do serious harm in its current form to those who rely on federal nutrition programs. I intend to work hard when this bill is debated by the full House of Representatives to preserve Vermont’s priorities, including the availability of nutritious food for families in need.’
· Stabilize milk prices for dairy farmers: The Dairy Security Act, sponsored by Rep. Welch in the last Congress, was included in the bill and an effort in committee to strike it was defeated by a vote of 26-20. This provision, advocated by Vermont dairy farmers, will stabilize the price they receive for milk. Rep. Welch personally lobbied Members of the committee to ensure it remained in the bill.
· Disaster insurance for vegetable growers: The Farm Bill includes Rep. Welch’s legislation that makes disaster insurance available to Vermont’s fruit and vegetable farmers under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). Currently, farmers can only purchase catastrophic coverage. Many of Vermont’s small farms were devastated when Tropical Storm Irene slammed Vermont in 2011.
· Promote local fruits and vegetables in school lunches: The bill includes Rep. Welch’s bill that would create a pilot program to allow states to purchase local fresh fruits and vegetables in school lunches.
· Growing Vermont’s maple industry: The bill includes two of Rep. Welch’s bills that support Vermont’s maple industry. The first will help sugar shacks install efficiency improvements to reduce fuel consumption during the sugaring process. Also included was the Maple Tapping Access Program (TAP) Act, which authorizes grants to states for the research and promotion of maple and the opening of new state lands for sugar production.
The Senate Agriculture Committee also approved its version of the Farm Bill this week. Senate floor action on the bill is anticipated in the near future.
Washington, DC. (May 17th, 2013) ‘Welch's office