Specialty Crop Research Act of 2023

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2024 Farm Bill to be completed on time. We supported House Agriculture Committee passage of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 (farm bill). Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education Support addressing interstate commerce issues impacting the livestock and poultry industry MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $275,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to H.R. 8467, Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2021; Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research &Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 -Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program - issues related to nutrition.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2024 Farm Bill to be completed on time. We supported House Agriculture Committee passage of H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 (farm bill). Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education Support addressing interstate commerce issues impacting the livestock and poultry industry MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

Farm Bill: Reauthorization of H.R. 2, Agricultural Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill); FY 2025 House & Senate Interior Appropriations; National Park Service appropriations for turf maintenance, preservation, and training for NPS; H.R. 4135, Research Facilities Act; H.R. 5199, Specialty Crop Research Initiative Funding Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $9,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Park Service (NPS), SENATE

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $185,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry. MFB has also been supportive of efforts to include funding for mechanization in the farm bill that would help with labor shortages. MFB supported a bill by Reps. LaMalfa and Carbajal and another by Reps. Valadao and Costa related to mechanization and a letter by the same authors.

Issues related to the 2024 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Farm Bill: Reauthorization of H.R. 2, Agricultural Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill); FY 2024 House & Senate Interior Appropriations; National Park Service appropriations for turf maintenance, preservation, and training for NPS; H.R. 4135, Research Facilities Act; H.R. 5199, Specialty Crop Research Initiative Funding Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $9,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Park Service (NPS), SENATE

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $185,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related to the 2023 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Farm Bill: Reauthorization of H.R. 2, Agricultural Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill); FY 2024 House & Senate Interior Appropriations; National Park Service appropriations for turf maintenance, preservation, and training for NPS; H.R. 4135, Research Facilities Act; H.R. 5199, Specialty Crop Research Initiative Funding Act

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $9,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Park Service (NPS), SENATE

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry.

Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Issues related the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, currently expiring Sept 2023, including titles 1-4, 6-7, 10-11. H.R.2728 Young Farmer Success Act; H.R.2720 Strengthening Organic Agricultural Research (SOAR) Act of 2023; H.R.4856 GusNIP Flexibility Act; H.R.4873 Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act; HR4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act; HR4173 Advancing Automation Research and Development in Agriculture Act; HR4739 and S.2682 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act; HR4838 Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023; HR5061 The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act; HR5062 The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act; HR 5199 Specialty Crop Research Act; S.2326 SNAP Nutrition Security Act; S.2591 Supporting Urban Farmers Act of 2023; H.R. 5973 Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act (CIAO); H.R. 5589 and S. 2874 Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act

Client expense: $250,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Michigan Farm Bureau continues to advocate for the 2023 Farm Bill to be completed on time. Our priorities for the bill include: Increase baseline funding commitments to farm programs (reference price increase, commodity loan rates) as they have not kept up with inflation Maintain a unified, bipartisan farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together Prioritize funding for risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs (ARC, PLC, DMC) Ensure adequate USDA staffing capacity and technical assistance Maintain funding for voluntary, working lands conservation programs. Support trade promotion programs like Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Assistance Program (MAP) Ensuring adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing & promotion, and pest management programs Funding for ag research and education MFB Supported H.R. 1480 and S. 759, the Beagle Brigade Act would provide permanent authorization for the National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains detector dogs, mostly beagles, and their U.S. Customs and Border Protection handlers to sniff out prohibited agricultural items that could carry foreign plant pests or animal diseases into America. MFB also supported the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act, a bill to strengthen the Dairy Margin Coverage program in the next Farm Bill. MFB supported the following bills: H.R. 4838, the Specialty Crop Security Act and H.R. 5199, the Specialty Crop Research Act, bills to increase funding of the specialty crop research in the Farm Bill. H.R. 4059 - a bill to include phosphate and potash on the final list of critical minerals of the Department of the Interior. We support this legislation as these minerals are critical for food production. H.R. 4739 and S.26 82 Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act. The bill would make improvements to the USDA Tree Assistance Program. S. 322 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust (SWAT) Act - the bill would direct USDA APHIS to establish a fund for research and activities related to mitigating the effects of spotted wing drosophila, an insect hurting the specialty crop industry.

Issues related to the 2023 Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Issues, agricultural trade, S.322 - SWAT Act of 2023, Agricultural Research, Disaster Assistance, H.R. 4739 & S. 2682 - Protecting Americas Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act, H.R. 4173 - Advancing Automation Research & Development in Agriculture, H.R. 5062 - The Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act, H.R. 4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act, H.R. 5199 - Specialty Crop Research Act, H.R. 679 - Amending Specialty Crop Research Initiative, S. 176 & H.R. 648 - Expanding Agriculture Exports Act of 2023, H.R. 5061 - The Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion Program Act, S. 2301 & H.R. 4613 - American Foods for American Schools Act, H.R. 4856 - GusNIP Expansion Act of 2023, USDAs Tree Assistance Program, and S.557 & H.R. 1249 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE