Jenniffer González Brings Together The Agricultural Sector To Bring Their Priorities To Farm Bill 2023

Press Release

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón today led a discussion with representatives of the agricultural industry in Puerto Rico to listen to their concerns and suggestions regarding the well-known Farm Bill, a law that will authorize most agricultural and nutrition programs for the next five fiscal years, beginning in 2023.

"The Farm Bill will be one of the central legislative pieces in the 118th Congress, which begins in January 2023. The measure presents an opportunity to discuss and add input to the current needs of agriculture and nutrition in Puerto Rico, especially with the challenges that the sector has faced as a result of natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. No one knows these needs better than those who experience them every day: the farmers, ranchers, farm managers, and others who work in this industry. That is why it is extremely important for me to hear your suggestions first hand. It will be my priority to lead the conversations and efforts in Congress to ensure that the points we discuss today and in the coming months are addressed," said Gonzáles Colón.

Agencies under the federal Department of Agriculture (USDA) such as the Farm Service Agency, Rural Development and Natural Resources Conservation Service, educational institutions with agricultural research programs such as the Universidad Interamericana in Barranquitas and Universidad Ana G. Méndez, and the Puerto Rico Farm Bureau, Agricultural Action and Reform, Mountain Citrus Producers, Maunabeña Association of Small Farmers, Puerto Rico Hydroponists, Ranchers Association, and the Executive Director of the House of Representatives Agriculture Commission and former Mayor of Utuado , Ernesto Irizarry.

The conversation focused on the topics of crops, the dairy, livestock and poultry industry, insurance, research, credit, disaster assistance, disease and pest management, agricultural education, etc.

One of the points highlighted by the Puerto Rico Farm Bureau is that this is the first time that organizations with national chapters, as in your case, can directly discuss their priorities for this important measure, instead of only considering the petitions that stipulate the national chapters.

Approximately every 5 years, Congress passes the Farm Bill, the most common being the Agriculture Improvement Act , Public Law 115-334, signed by President Trump on December 20, 2018.

It comprises twelve (12) titles, encompassing programs that cover crops, conservation, research, agricultural insurance, among others, administered mostly by USDA and affiliated agencies.

According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office published after the approval of the Farm Bill in 2018, the cost of mandatory or required programs included in the legislation was $428 billion between fiscal years 2019-2023. This represented an increase of $1.8 billion compared to the previous Farm Bill, approved in 2014. There are 4 titles that represent 99% of the funds authorized by the legislation: the title of nutrition, crops, agricultural insurance, and conservation.

"Most of our crops are specialty or non-traditional, so we have to be vigilant that they are considered eligible for the range of programs available to assist farmers. We must also ensure that we have the necessary funds and authorizations to promote agricultural education and research to increase the number of farmers and the quality of products on the island. Likewise, on the nutrition side, our primary request will be the transition from the block program (PAN) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)," concluded the commissioner.

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