Farm bill to expand support for fruit and vegetable growers

Posted by IronPlanet on Jun 10, 2012 7:19:00 PM

A new farm bill up for debate in the Senate could offer major assistance to those growing specialty crops such as fruit and vegetables, according to the Albany Times-Union.

Often overlooked in favor of crops like wheat, fruit and vegetable growers play a major role in the nation's agriculture, especially in certain parts of the country. For example, in upstate New York, farmers produced more than $676 million in fruits and vegetables in 2007, according to the news source.

Chuck Schumer, a Senator from New York, says the new bill will provide support for those farmers, as well as others from across the country.

"The farm bill on the Senate floor represents a real step forward,'' Schumer told the news source. "Grapes, apples, onions and a host of other specialty crops are a huge part of the upstate agricultural economy, and this bill reflects that.''

Due to the nature of agriculture, those who own fruit or vegetable farms may have to go about things slightly differently than those who grow more common crops. For example, farmers who have fruit-bearing trees may be more susceptible to frost or certain pests that won't bother crops that grow directly out of the ground. The new bill seeks to address these discrepancies in the area of crop insurance.

Under the legislation, crop insurance will be expanded so fruit and vegetable growers get reimbursed for a larger percentage of their losses after a natural disaster. It will also subsidize insurance offered by organizations specifically selling coverage to fruit and vegetable farmers.

Farmers who receive federal aid may want to invest their money in new agricultural equipment for their farm. The online auction site IronPlanet offers a wide array of dump trailers, sprayers, irrigation systems and much more, often at a more affordable price than buying new.

Topics: Industry Headlines