Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
Congressional research reportAug 13, 2025
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Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
August 13, 2025
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R48625
SUMMARY
Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
The U.S. specialty crop market consists of hundreds of different types of products. Each market
has its own set of unique production and marketing conditions. Specialty crops are defined as
“fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including
floriculture)” (7 U.S.C. §1621). According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)
2022 Census of Agriculture, specialty crops were produced on approximately 240,000 farms and
had a farm-level market value of $115 billion in annual agricultural products sold.
R48625
August 13, 2025
Zachary T. Neuhofer
Analyst in Agricultural
Policy
USDA administers programs either directed toward or benefitting specialty crop production.
USDA programs cover areas such as marketing and promotion, plant health, research, export promotion, risk management,
commodity procurement, and nutrition. Several USDA specialty crop programs originally were authorized in the Specialty
Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (SCCA; P.L. 108-465). The horticulture title of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (2008 farm bill; P.L. 110-246) featured specialty crop programs that were covered in SCCA. Specialty crops also
benefit from programs in the research, trade, commodities, and crop insurance titles in the farm bill. These specialty crop
programs were extended and reauthorized in the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 farm bill; P.L. 113-79) and Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334). The 2018 farm bill currently is extended until September 30, 2025
(P.L. 118-158, Division D).
Specialty crop programs in the farm bill include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which is targeted toward
marketing and promotion of specialty crops. Other farm bill programs include the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which
provides grants that fund research and extension activities that affect specialty crops. The Plant Pest and Disease
Management and Disaster Prevention Program provides support to conduct early plant pest and disease detection and
surveillance. The farm bill also provides funding for export promotion programs such as Technical Assistance for Specialty
Crops, which funds projects to address technical barriers to trade for specialty crops. Specialty Crop Market News is a
program that disseminates publicly available price and market data on specialty crops.
Specialty crops also receive support in other farm bill programs addressed in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills. These include
nutrition assistance programs that support household food assistance through both grocery benefits and USDA food
distribution. Other support includes federal crop insurance and disaster assistance programs, such as the Noninsured Disaster
Assistance Program and the Tree Assistance Program. Additionally, specialty crops can benefit from export promotion
programs, such as the Market Access Program.
Legislation enacted in the 119th Congress would impact specialty crops. Specifically, P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 reconciliation
law (sometimes referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), increases mandatory spending on many agricultural programs
in the farm bill while reducing outlays for nutrition assistance programs. Some provisions in P.L. 119-21 will impact
specialty crop programs, including Specialty Crop Block Grants, Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster
Prevention, and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Additionally, P.L. 119-21 includes funding and specific provisions
that affect specialty crops in federal crop insurance, disaster assistance, export promotion, and nutrition assistance. Some of
the provisions adopted in P.L. 119-21 were considered in the farm bill deliberations of the 118 th Congress (e.g., H.R. 8467
and S. 5335).
Other measures proposed by Members in the 119th Congress would impact specialty crop trade, fruit and vegetable purchases
in USDA programs, federal crop insurance, and specialty crop research. Some of these proposals seek to ban citrus imports
from China (e.g., H.R. 2084/S. 1042). Other measures would include additional specialty crop varieties in nutrition programs
such as the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (e.g., H.R. 1782/S. 813) and the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition
Program (e.g., H.R. 2379/S. 1145). Still other proposals seek to create new policies for specialty crop varieties in federal crop
insurance (e.g., H.R. 292, H.R. 1613/S. 741, S. 231) or provide funding for specialty crop research (e.g., H.R. 2084/S. 1042).
Congressional Research Service
Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
U.S. Specialty Crop Production....................................................................................................... 2
Selected Farm Bill Programs ........................................................................................................... 4
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program........................................................................................ 5
Specialty Crop Research Initiative ............................................................................................ 6
Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention .................................................. 7
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops ................................................................................. 8
Specialty Crop Market News .................................................................................................... 9
Domestic Nutrition Programs ................................................................................................... 9
Household Food Assistance Programs ................................................................................ 9
Food Distribution Programs .............................................................................................. 10
Child Nutrition Programs .................................................................................................. 10
Commodity Procurement ................................................................................................... 11
Selected Programs Not Restricted to Specialty Crops ............................................................. 11
Risk Management Programs .............................................................................................. 11
Export Promotion Programs ............................................................................................. 12
Selected Recent Legislation and Issues for Congress ................................................................... 13
Figures
Figure 1. Share of Farms Primarily Growing Specialty Crops, by County, 2022 ........................... 3
Tables
Table 1. Specialty Crop Production and Market Value.................................................................... 2
Table 2. Top 10 States for Specialty Crop Sales by Category ......................................................... 3
Table 3. FY2025 Funding for Selected Farm Bill Specialty Crop Focused Programs .................... 5
Contacts
Author Information........................................................................................................................ 15
Congressional Research Service
Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
Introduction
The U.S. specialty crop industry consists of hundreds of different agricultural crops that each
have their own set of market conditions. Statute defines specialty crops as “fruits and vegetables,
tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture).”1 The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers a range of programs that support specialty crops.
These programs span marketing and promotion, pest and disease management, research, export
promotion, disaster assistance, crop insurance, federal commodity procurement, and nutrition.
The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-465) originally authorized several
specialty crops programs. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 farm bill; P.L.
110-246) continued several USDA-administered specialty crops programs from the Specialty
Crop Competitiveness Act of 2004 and established new ones. The types of support programs in
farm bills include grants pertaining to production and marketing, grants for specialty crop
research, funding for specialty crop export promotion, crop insurance, and disaster assistance.
Specialty crop programs were reauthorized and amended through subsequent farm bills: the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 farm bill; P.L. 113-79) and the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334).2
The 118th Congress considered legislation that would have impacted USDA’s specialty crops
programs. Farm bills proposed in both the House and Senate (H.R. 8467 and S. 5335) would have
reauthorized and expanded existing USDA programs. Such proposals were not enacted. In the
119th Congress, specialty crop issues have been addressed in hearings related to the farm bill.3
Also, some Members have introduced legislation that would impact USDA’s specialty crops
programs, and that could be considered during deliberations that may occur about a next farm
bill. P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 reconciliation law (sometimes referred to as the One Big Beautiful
Bill Act) contains funding increases for USDA specialty crop programs as well as provisions that
impact specialty crop producers in crop insurance and disaster programs.
Industry support for programs across all farm bill titles is highlighted in the policy
recommendations and legislative priorities promoted by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance.4
Some of these priorities include disaster assistance, export assistance, nutrition, research,
marketing and promotion, pest and disease management, and crop insurance. Most of the
industry’s priorities were addressed in P.L. 119-21. Some farm groups have expressed concerns
regarding provisions in P.L. 119-21 on the grounds that they would prioritize large, wealthy farms
over other farmers and rural communities, among other reasons.5
1 7 U.S.C. §1621. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lists crops that are eligible and ineligible for this
designation at Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), “What Is a Specialty Crop?,” https://www.ams.usda.gov/
services/grants/scbgp/specialty-crop.
2 For a comprehensive overview of the 2018 farm bill, see CRS Report R45525, The 2018 Farm Bill (P.L. 115-334):
Summary and Side-by-Side Comparison, coordinated by Frank Gottron.
3 On February 11, 2025, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the “economic crisis in farm country.” In
February and March 2025, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee held a three-part hearing series
titled “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy.”
4 The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) is a “national coalition of 150 organizations representing growers of
fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products” (SCFBA, “Farmbill Alliance,”
https://farmbillalliance.com/). For more information on farm bill priorities, see SCFBA, 2024 Farm Bill Final Policy
Recommendations, January 30, 2023, https://www.freshproduce.com/siteassets/files/advocacy/farm-bill/24-scfbasteering-committee-recommendations-3-26-24.pdf.
5 National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, “NSAC News,” https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/release-congresssends-reconciliation-bill-to-presidents-desk-cannibalizing-american-food-and-farm-system/.
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Specialty Crops: Selected Farm Bill Programs
This report provides an overview of specialty crop production, its market, and selected USDA
support programs included in the two most recent farm bills (2014 and 2018). This report focuses
on certain programs that provide support predominantly to specialty crop producers and provides
a brief overview of other programs that may also benefit such producers.6 This report also
discusses selected legislation introduced by Members in the 118th and 119th Congresses (as of July
24, 2025) that would have impacted or would impact specialty crops through reauthorization of
existing programs, changes to existing programs, or creation of new programs.
U.S. Specialty Crop Production
According to USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture, conducted in 2022, specialty crops are
produced nationwide on approximately 240,000 farms. Production spans approximately 15
million acres, yielding an estimated farm-level market value of $115 billion in annual agricultural
product sales in 2022 (most recent year available).7 For 2022, Table 1 shows the number of
farms, the amount of harvested cropland, and the annual farm-level market value (i.e., sales) in
billions of dollars for each specialty crop category. The largest categories by number of farms are
(1) non-citrus orchards, (2) vegetables, and (3) nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod.8
Table 1. Specialty Crop Production and Market Value
Specialty Crop
All specialty crops
Number of
Farms
Harvested
Cropland
(millions of acres)
Annual Farm-Level
Market Value
(billions of $)
240,000
15.00
115.00
Non-citrus orchards
74,438
4.74
26.92
Vegetables
69,452
14.15
45.03
Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod
53,483
2.24
25.49
Tree nut orchards
39,425
5.76
20.73
Berries
35,331
1.42
10.10
Cultivated Christmas trees
16,612
0.61
1.39
Citrus orchards
11,269
1.29
6.75
Maple syrup
9,573
0.40
0.92
Pulse crops
7,388
16.38
11.95
120
0.01
0.01
1,364
0.59
2.00
Short rotation woody crops
Other
Source: CRS from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2022 Census of Agriculture: Specialty Crops, vol. 2,
part 8, AC-22-S-8, Table 2 (October 2024), https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/
Online_Resources/Specialty_Crops/SCROPS.pdf.
Notes: Data are sorted by number of farms. Farm numbers, acres, and market value (i.e., sales) are not additive.
This is because some farms produce multiple commodities and may contribute to multiple product categories.
6 Many programs in this report also benefit local producers. For more information, see CRS Report R46538, Local and
Urban Food Systems: Selected Farm Bill and Other Federal Programs, by Renée Johnson et al.
7 USDA, 2022 Census of Agriculture: Specialty Crops, vol. 2, part 8, AC-22-S-8, Table 2 (October 2024),
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Online_Resources/Specialty_Crops/SCROPS.pdf.
8 For information on the categories in the Census of Agriculture, see the appendix of USDA, 2022 Census of
Agriculture: Specialty Crops, vol. 2, part 8, AC-22-S-8 (October 2024).
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Also, some farm acres may reflect double cropping or multiple annual crop rotations across different crop
categories. Market value may include other farm-level sales by specialty crop producers, including non-crop sales.
Specialty crops are produced in all 50 states. Figure 1 shows the share of farms in each U.S.
County in 2022 that primarily grew specialty crops.
Figure 1. Share of Farms Primarily Growing Specialty Crops, by County, 2022
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture, https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
_laserfiche/Charts/109080/CoA-Specialty-Crop-farms.png.
Production for different types of specialty crops varies across states. According to the Census of
Agriculture, California was the leading state in 2022 in the categories of (1) fruit, tree nut, and
berry sales and (2) vegetable sales. In the same year, other leading states in these categories were
Florida and Washington.9 In floriculture sales in 2023, Florida was the leading state, followed by
California and Michigan. Table 2 shows the top states in fruit, tree nut, and berry sales in 2022;
vegetable sales in 2022; and floriculture sales in 2023.
Table 2. Top 10 States for Specialty Crop Sales by Category
Fruit, Tree Nut, and Berry; Vegetable; and Floriculture
State
Sales
(millions of dollars)
Fruit, tree nut, and berry (2022)
California
23,136
Washington
3,789
Florida
1,445
Oregon
890
New York
721
9 For a comprehensive overview of all specialty crop production in the United States, see USDA, Summary and State
Data, vol. 1, part 51, AC-22-A-51 (February 2024), https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/
Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf.
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Michigan
703
Georgia
487
Pennsylvania
267
Arizona
233
New Mexico
229
Vegetable (2022)
California
11,672
Florida
1,924
Washington
1,873
Idaho
1,597
Arizona
1,432
Wisconsin
764
Oregon
733
Michigan
706
North Carolina
697
Georgia
681
Floriculture (2023)
Florida
1,208
California
983
Michigan
695
Texas
319
New Jersey
308
New York
236
Ohio
233
Pennsylvania
215
Connecticut
170
North Carolina
168
Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), “Fruit, Tree Nut, and Berry Production,” August
2024, https://data.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2024/Census22_HL_FruitNutBerry.pdf; NASS, “Vegetable
Production,” August 2024, https://data.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2024/Census22_HL_Vegetable.pdf;
and NASS, “2023 Floriculture Crops,” May 2024, https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2024/2023floriculture-highlights.pdf.
Selected Farm Bill Programs
Specialty crop farm bill programs receive both mandatory and discretionary funding. This report
focuses on the mandatory funding for specialty crops provided in the farm bill.10 USDA’s
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) provides mandatory funding for most farm bill programs,
10 For information on mandatory funding for farm bill programs for FY2018-FY2025, see, CRS In Focus IF12233,
Farm Bill Primer: Budget Dynamics, by Jim Monke.
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which is not subject to the annual appropriations process.11 Congress extended the 2018 farm bill
through FY2025 (P.L. 118-158, Division D).12 Table 3 shows FY2025 funding for selected farm
bill programs focused on specialty crops.
Table 3. FY2025 Funding for Selected Farm Bill Specialty Crop Focused Programs
Program
Funding
Specialty Crop Block Grant
$85 million (mandatory)
Specialty Crop Research Initiative
$80 million (mandatory)
Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention
$75 million (mandatory)
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops
$9 million (mandatory)
Source: CRS from P.L. 115-334 and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 2025 Explanatory Notes – Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service, https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/22-APHIS-2025ExNotes.pdf.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Congress authorized the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) in 2004 through the
Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act (P.L. 108-465).13 The program is administered by USDA’s
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).14 SCBGP provides grants to nonfederal departments of
agriculture in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.15 The purpose of these
grants is to “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.”16 SGBGP funds projects with
purposes such as improving food safety, improving the specialty crop distribution chain,
developing new crop varieties, mitigating pests and diseases, increasing knowledge of the
nutritional benefits of specialty crops, and encouraging sustainability and conservation.17
Nonfederal departments of agriculture apply for funds using an application that details how they
plan to use those funds to benefit specialty crop production.18 In FY2024, USDA awarded 54
grants to nonfederal departments of agriculture, which in turn funded a total of 524 projects.19
11 For more on the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), see CRS Report R44606, The Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC), by Megan Stubbs. Mandatory funding for federal crop insurance is not provided through CCC; for
more, see CRS Report R46686, Federal Crop Insurance: A Primer, by Stephanie Rosch.
12 For more on farm bill extension, see CRS Report R47659, Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill and Extension for 2025,
by Jim Monke, Randy Alison Aussenberg, and Megan Stubbs.
13 7 U.S.C. §1621 note.
14 Regulations for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) were formerly listed at 7 C.F.R. Part 1291 but
were removed as of July 26, 2021. SCBGP is now administered according to the provisions in 2 C.F.R. Part 200. AMS,
“Administering the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,” 86 Federal Register 39941, July 26, 2021, https://www.
federalregister.gov/documents/2021/07/26/2021-15780/administering-the-specialty-crop-block-grant-program.
15 The grants are awarded to an eligible entity from a state or territory and then distributed to different projects. Projects
are commonly administered by universities, cooperative extension, and nonprofits and last up to three years.
16 7 U.S.C. §1621 note; AMS, “Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP): Fiscal Year 2025 Request for
Applications,” May 9, 2025, p. 4, https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2024_SCBGP_RFA_FINAL.pdf.
17 AMS, “Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP): Fiscal Year 2025 Request for Applications.”
18 States with higher percentages of market value of specialty crop production and acreage in production, compared
with the national levels, generally receive more funding.
19 The grant amount is determined in statute to be the higher of $100,000 or one-third of 1% of the total amount of
funding made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year. The base grant value of $243,000 in FY2024 was
based on the average of the most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts in the state (2022 calendar year
estimates) and the acreage of specialty crop production in the state (2017 Census of Agriculture).
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The total amount of funds awarded was approximately $72.9 million in FY2024.20 Funded
projects focus on topics including plant health, production systems, impacts of technology,
education, and marketing campaigns. The states with the largest awards for FY2024 were
California, Washington, Florida, North Dakota, and Montana. These states accounted for
approximately $38.4 million (52.7%) of available funding.
The 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79) authorized funds for multistate projects when a project
addressed regional- or national-level specialty crop issues through the Specialty Crop Multi-State
Program (SCMP).21 In FY2023, USDA awarded 11 grants for approximately $9.4 million in
funds.22 SCMP funds projects that cover areas similar to those covered by SCBGP but requires
that at least two partners be located in different states.23 Some topics for projects included
adoption of production techniques for dry-farmed tomatoes in California and Oregon and the
impacts of sustainable landscaping equipment in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
SCBGP receives $85 million in annual mandatory funding from CCC.24 USDA may use some of
the funds given to SCBGP for multistate SCMP projects.25 The 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334)
reauthorized SCBGP and added requirements for USDA to enter into cooperative agreements
with stakeholders to evaluate the use of grant funds.26
Specialty Crop Research Initiative
The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was authorized by the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110246) and is administered by USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA).27 SCRI
is a grant program that provides funding for research and extension to address challenges in food
and agriculture. USDA states that projects should engage stakeholders, cross different disciplines
(e.g., biology and social sciences), and relate to production and the supply chain. USDA’s focus
areas include improving crop characteristics and technological innovations.28 Grants range from
$50,000 to $2,000,000 in total for a project and may last up to 10 years.29
20 AMS, Fiscal Year 2024 Description of Funded Projects – Farm Bill, August 23, 2024, https://www.ams.usda.gov/
sites/default/files/media/SCBGPDescriptionofFunds2024.pdf. This web page provides detail on the projects to which
funds were allocated, including crops, and project types.
21 AMS, “Specialty Crop Multi-State Program,” https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scmp. The Specialty Crop
Multi-State Program (SCMP) receives a portion of SCBGP funding.
22 AMS, “Fiscal Year 2023 Description of Funded Projects,” https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/
SCMPDescriptionofFundedProjects2023.pdf.
23 AMS, “Specialty Crop Multi-State Program: Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications,” August 24, 2023,
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/2023_SCMP_RFA.pdf. Grant amounts range from $250,000 to $1
million for the three-year period of 2024-2027.
24 In FY2021, SCBGP received an additional $100 million in discretionary appropriations (P.L. 116-260).
25 7 U.S.C. §1621 note gives authority to allocate funds of $5 million for multistate projects.
26 The 2018 farm bill also gave permission for USDA to directly administer multistate projects for applicants in states
that are not participating in SCMP.
27 7 U.S.C. §7632; 7 C.F.R. §§3430.200-3430.209. In establishing the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), the
2008 farm bill removed specialty crops from USDA’s list of high priority research and extension activities (7 U.S.C.
§5925), which had been added in the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-465).
28 For all focus areas, see National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), “Specialty Crop Research Initiative,”
February 12, 2025, https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/specialty-crop-research-initiative-scri. Projects funded
in the past can be seen at https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/enterprise-search/ss/2275.
29 Grant length is specified at 7 U.S.C. §7632(g)(2). For the range of awards, see NIFA, “Specialty Crop Research
Initiative,” https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/specialty-crop-research-initiative.
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The 2018 farm bill also included funding for the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and
Development Trust Fund (Citrus Disease Trust Fund), which provides funds to the Emergency
Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDREP) and is administered by NIFA.30
ECDREP funds projects that combat citrus greening disease (huanglongbing). Funded projects
are to help farmers to produce citrus in a financially sustainable way, implement research
developments on the farm, and find solutions to combat and prevent citrus greening.31
SCRI receives $80 million in mandatory funding from CCC each fiscal year.32 SCRI is authorized
through the 2018 farm bill to receive an additional $100 million in discretionary appropriations
each fiscal year.33 The Citrus Disease Trust Fund was created in the 2018 farm bill and received
$25 million in mandatory funding from CCC each fiscal year through FY2024.34
Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention
The Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention (PPDMDP) program was
authorized by the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246) and is administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).35 PPDMDP funds stakeholder projects related to invasive
plant pests and agricultural trade. Stakeholders include federal and state agencies, nonprofits,
Tribes, universities, and industry.36 Projects funded through PPDMDP are related to the specific
goals of APHIS, which include conducting pest and disease analysis and improving tools for pest
identification and detection.37 APHIS states that it has funded “more than 5,890 projects” and
provided “nearly $940 million in funding” through PPDMDP from FY2009 to FY2025.38
The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), part of PPDMDP, was created to be a source of plant
propagative material (i.e., cuttings, seeds, buds) free of pathogens and pests.39 The NCPN
maintains plant centers at 34 federal facilities and university service centers across the United
30 7 U.S.C. §7632 note. The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program (ECDREP) was established in
the 2014 farm bill. It was expanded and reauthorized in the 2018 farm bill. Initially, funds for the program were taken
out of the mandatory appropriation to SCRI. Separate mandatory appropriations were provided in the 2018 farm bill.
31 NIFA, “Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension Program,” February 18, 2025,
https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/emergency-citrus-disease-research-extension-program. Funded projects can
be found at https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/enterprise-search/project_details/ss/1650.
32 7 U.S.C. §7632(k)(1)(B). SCRI is currently funded through FY2025 from the second extension of the 2018 farm bill
(P.L. 118-158, Division D).
33 7 U.S.C. §7632(k)(2). This authorization expired in 2023 but was reauthorized through FY2025 by the second
extension of the 2018 farm bill (P.L. 118-158, Division D).
34 7 U.S.C. §7632 note. The Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund (Citrus Disease Trust
Fund) was funded through FY2023 from the 2018 farm bill. It received funding for FY2024 in the 2018 farm bill
extension (P.L. 118-22). The Citrus Disease Trust Fund is currently not funded because it has no budget baseline; see
CRS In Focus IF12115, Farm Bill Primer: Programs Without a Budget Baseline, by Jim Monke. Prior to the 2018 farm
bill, funding for ECDREP was reserved from the funding to SCRI.
35 7 U.S.C. §7721.
36 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), “PPA 7721: Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster
Prevention Program,” May 5, 2025, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/funding/ppdmdpp.
37 APHIS’s FY2025 full goals can be found at APHIS, 2025 Explanatory Notes – Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/22-APHIS-2025-ExNotes.pdf.
38 APHIS, Plant Protection Act Section 7721: Fiscal Year 2026 Implementation Plan, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
sites/default/files/ppa7721-fy26-implementation-plan.pdf.
39 APHIS, “PPA 7721: National Clean Plant Network,” January 14, 2025, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/funding/ncpn. 7
U.S.C. §7721(e).
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States to produce and maintain pathogen-free propagative plant material.40 Projects in the NCPN
focus on specialty crops, such as fruit trees, grapes, hops, berries, citruses, sweet potatoes, and
roses. In FY2023, APHIS allocated $7.75 million to projects in the NCPN.41
PPDMDP receives $75 million in mandatory funds from CCC each fiscal year. Statute requires
that at least $5 million of the mandatory CCC funds be used for the NCPN.42 The most recent
legislative changes to PPDMDP were in the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79). These changes raised
annual mandatory appropriations from CCC to $62.5 million for a four-year period covering
FY2014-FY2017 and $75 million for FY2018 and each subsequent fiscal year.43 Additionally, the
2014 farm bill consolidated PPDMDP and the NCPN.44
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) was first authorized by the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 farm bill; P.L. 107-171) and later consolidated with other
export promotion programs by the 2018 farm bill.45 USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service
administers TASC.46 TASC is an export assistance program that provides cost-share assistance to
address “sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers” that either prohibit or threaten U.S.
specialty crop exports.47 Activities that are eligible to receive funding include seminars,
workshops, and pest and disease research.48 Any U.S. organization is eligible if it has a role or an
interest in exporting U.S. specialty crops. These organizations include government agencies, trade
associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, and private companies.49 Eligible crops
include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States, except for wheat,
feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. TASC grants are for a maximum of
$500,000 per year. Projects can last up to five years.
TASC receives $9 million in mandatory CCC funds each fiscal year.50 The 2018 farm bill
maintained mandatory CCC funding for the program at $9 million per fiscal year from FY2019 to
FY2023.51 TASC authorization and funding was extended twice in one-year extensions for
FY2024 and FY2025.52
40 APHIS, National Clean Plant Network: 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and Program Implementation Guide,
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ncpn-strategic-plan.pdf.
41 APHIS, 2025 Explanatory Notes – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
42 7 U.S.C. §7721(g).
43 7 U.S.C. §7721.
44 Prior to the 2014 farm bill, the NCPN was codified in 7 U.S.C. §7761 and received $5 million in annual CCC
funding for FY2009-FY2012.
45 7 U.S.C. §5623(e); 7 C.F.R. §§1487.1-1487.22.
46 For more information about the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and FAS agricultural export promotion
programs, see CRS Report R47836, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service: An Overview, by Benjamin Tsui and CRS
In Focus IF12155, Farm Bill Primer: Trade and Export Promotion Programs, by Benjamin Tsui.
47 For more on technical barriers, see CRS Report R43450, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Related Non-Tariff
Barriers to Agricultural Trade, by Renée Johnson.
48 FAS, “Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC),” https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/technical-assistancespecialty-crops-tasc.
49 7 C.F.R. §1487.2.
50 7 U.S.C. §5623(f)(3)(iv). Funding has been extended through FY2025 (P.L. 118-158, Division D).
51 The 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334) consolidated all of the export promotion programs in 7 U.S.C. §5623.
52 P.L. 118-22, Division B, §102; and P.L. 118-158, Division D.
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Specialty Crop Market News
Specialty Crop Market News (SCMN) is a program that disseminates publicly available price and
market data on specialty crops. It is authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 and
administered by AMS.53 SCMN disseminates information on marketing conditions for “hundreds
of agricultural commodities” in domestic and international wholesale markets, production areas,
and ports of entry.54 It reflects spot market price data, which is the price paid in the physical
market. USDA collects the data from sales personnel, suppliers, brokers, and buyers. SCMN
reporters “collect, validate, analyze, and organize” data on price, volume, quality, and condition.55
USDA states that SCMN has around 50 market reporters at the state and federal level. The
program covers 1,453 markets, interviewing over 4,000 buyers and sellers on a weekly basis, and
covering over 786 commodities.56
SCMN users can access standard reports for wholesale market prices, shipping point prices at
prominent locations in the United States and at ports of entry, product movement and shipments,
retail prices, and local farmers markets and auction prices.57 Additionally, users can create custom
reports for specialty crops that include different commodities, locations, and market types (e.g.,
retail).58
The 2018 farm bill reauthorized SCMN.59 It is authorized to receive $9 million in annual
appropriations through FY2025.60
Domestic Nutrition Programs
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers a range of domestic nutrition and food
assistance programs aiming to improve food security and nutrition among individuals and
families as well as support producers.61 Some programs focus exclusively on fruits and
vegetables, while others focus on a broader range of foods that include fruits and vegetables.
Household Food Assistance Programs
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and Children provide benefits to low-income households that can be
used to purchase fruits and vegetables, though benefits are not for purchasing fruits and
vegetables exclusively.62 Other programs that provide household assistance include the Senior
53 7 U.S.C. §1622b.
54 AMS, “Specialty Crops,” https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/fruits-vegetables.
55 AMS, “Specialty Crops.”
56 AMS, “Introduction to Market News,” webinar, March 21, 2023, https://ams.prod.usda.gov/market-news/fruits-
vegetables.
57 AMS, “Specialty Crops.”
58 Users can create their own data reports at AMS’s website: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/public_data.
59 7 U.S.C. §1622b(b).
60 P.L. 118-158, Division D.
61 For more information on Food Nutrition Service nutrition assistance programs in the farm bill, see CRS In Focus
IF12255, Farm Bill Primer: SNAP and Nutrition Title Programs, by Randy Alison Aussenberg and Kara Clifford
Billings. Some programs discussed here typically are not included in the farm bill. For more on these programs, see
CRS In Focus IF10266, Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR): An Overview, by Kara Clifford Billings and Randy
Alison Aussenberg.
62 7 U.S.C. §§2011 et seq., 42 U.S.C. §1786. For more on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), see
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Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and Women, Infants, and Children Farmers’ Market Nutrition
Program, which provide grants to participating states to offer vouchers/coupons to eligible
participants (seniors and low-income households) that may be used at farmers’ markets, roadside
stands, and other approved venues to purchase fresh produce.63 Additionally, the Gus Schumacher
Nutrition Incentive Program provides grants to fund SNAP nutrition incentives and produce
prescription programs.64
Food Distribution Programs
Other programs, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Commodity
Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), distribute federally purchased commodities, including fruits
and vegetables, to local organizations for ultimate distribution to individuals in need.65 In lieu of
SNAP benefits, low-income households on Indian reservations or Native American families
residing in Oklahoma or in designated areas near Oklahoma may receive a food package of
USDA commodities (including fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops) through the Food
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).66
Child Nutrition Programs
Additionally, some programs provide support for child nutrition that may be used to purchase or
provide specialty crops.67 These programs include the School Breakfast Program and the National
School Lunch Program, which subsidize meals served to students in elementary and secondary
schools, including free and reduced-price meals.68 Such meals are required to include fruit and
vegetable components. Additionally, the Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult
Care Food Program provide assistance to eligible organizations to serve meals (including fruits
and vegetables) in the summer and in child and adult day care settings.69 Another child nutrition
program is the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides grants to selected low-income
CRS Report R42505, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A Primer on Eligibility and Benefits, by
Randy Alison Aussenberg and Gene Falk. For more on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC), see CRS Report R44115, A Primer on WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children, by Randy Alison Aussenberg.
63 7 U.S.C. §3007, 42 U.S.C. §1786(m). For more information about nutrition assistance programs, see CRS Report
R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs, by Randy Alison Aussenberg, Kara Clifford Billings, and
Kirsten J. Colello.
64 7 U.S.C. §7517. The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program is administered by NIFA. NIFA, “Gus
Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP),” https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/hunger-foodsecurity-programs/gus-schumacher-nutrition-incentive-program.
65 7 U.S.C. §§2036 and 7501 et seq.; and 7 U.S.C. §612c note. For more on The Emergency Food Assistance Program
(TEFAP), see CRS Report R45408, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Background and Funding, by
Kara Clifford Billings. For more on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), see CRS Report R42353,
Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs, by Randy Alison Aussenberg, Kara Clifford Billings, and Kirsten J.
Colello.
66 7 U.S.C. §2013(b). For more on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, see CRS Report R42353,
Domestic Food Assistance: Summary of Programs, by Randy Alison Aussenberg, Kara Clifford Billings, and Kirsten J.
Colello.
67 For more on child nutrition programs, see CRS In Focus IF10266, Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR): An
Overview, by Kara Clifford Billings and Randy Alison Aussenberg and CRS Report R46234, School Meals and Other
Child Nutrition Programs: Background and Funding, by Kara Clifford Billings.
68 42 U.S.C. §1773 and 42 U.S.C. §§1751 et seq. The National School Lunch Program is the largest child nutrition
program.
69 42 U.S.C. §§1761 and 1766.
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elementary schools to serve fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to students during the school day.70
Another grant program, the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program, funds projects that support
agricultural education for children and expand local foods in schools.71
Commodity Procurement
Some of the above programs, such as TEFAP, CSFP, FDPIR, and child nutrition programs,
distribute USDA Foods purchased by AMS in consultation with FNS.72 Statute requires that
USDA purchase minimum amounts of specialty crops under Section 32 of the Act of August 24,
1935 (known as Section 32) annually for distribution to nutrition assistance programs.73 USDA
also purchases commodities through CCC and from appropriations for specific nutrition
assistance programs. Under USDA’s Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program,
participating entities in certain FNS programs can elect to receive fresh fruit and vegetable
commodities through the Department of Defense’s supply chain rather than through AMS.74
Selected Programs Not Restricted to Specialty Crops
Specialty crop producers can benefit from programs in farm bill provisions that provide support
to agricultural producers in general. These programs include risk management programs such as
federal crop insurance and disaster assistance. Additionally, specialty crop producers can
participate in export promotion programs.
Risk Management Programs
Specialty crop producers may participate in the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP).75 FCIP
provides insurance coverage for most U.S. agricultural commodities against financial losses
caused by adverse conditions in the market and other unavoidable events.76 Producers of specialty
crops may participate in varying coverage options offered by FCIP, including individual crop
insurance programs, Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, and the Micro Farm Program.77
Specialty crop producers can also participate in some disaster assistance programs. One of these
programs is the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).78 NAP provides financial
70 42 U.S.C. §1769a.
71 42 U.S.C. §1769(g).
72 For information on USDA commodity procurement, see CRS Report R48141, Trends in USDA Procurement of U.S.
Food and Agricultural Products, by Renée Johnson et al. and AMS, “Commodity Procurement,”
https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/commodity-procurement.
73 7 U.S.C. §612c. 7 U.S.C. §612c-4 to §612c-5. For more on Section 32 and commodity procurement, see CRS In
Focus IF12193, Farm and Food Support Under USDA’s Section 32 Account, by Jim Monke, and CRS Report R48141,
Trends in USDA Procurement of U.S. Food and Agricultural Products, by Renée Johnson et al.
74 For more on purchases through the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, see CRS Report
R48141, Trends in USDA Procurement of U.S. Food and Agricultural Products, by Renée Johnson et al.
75 The Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) is administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and
funded through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). For more on FCIP, see CRS Report R46686, Federal
Crop Insurance: A Primer, by Stephanie Rosch, and CRS Report R45459, Federal Crop Insurance: Specialty Crops,
by Renée Johnson.
76 7 U.S.C. §§1501-1531; 7 C.F.R. §§400.51-460.13.
77 For more information on specialty crops in FCIP, see RMA, “Specialty Crops,” https://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutcrop-insurance/highlighted-initiatives-plans/specialty-crops.
78 The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) is administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA)
and receives mandatory funds through CCC. 7 U.S.C. §7333; 7 C.F.R. §§1437.1-1437.515. For more on NAP, see CRS
Report R48245, The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), by Christine Whitt.
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support to producers of crops that cannot receive federal crop insurance. This includes specialty
crops such as turfgrass, floriculture, honey, and maple syrup.79 NAP helps producers protect
against natural disasters that result in lower yields, destroyed crops, or the inability to plant.
Another disaster assistance program is the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).80 TAP provides
financial support to orchardists and nursery tree growers that experience losses caused by natural
disasters. TAP helps producers cover the cost of replanting and rehabilitating trees, bushes, and
vines that produce annual crops and have been damaged or destroyed. Additionally, some
specialty crop producers can participate in Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and
Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP).81 ELAP offers financial assistance to producers of these commodities
that suffer losses from adverse conditions that are not covered by other USDA disaster assistance
programs. ELAP can be relevant to specialty crops because of the role that bees play in
pollination and honey production (honey is considered a specialty crop).
Export Promotion Programs
Specialty crop producers can also participate in general export promotion programs, including the
Market Access Program (MAP), the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), and the
Emerging Markets Program (EMP).82 MAP provides funding to cover a portion of the costs to
market and promote U.S. agricultural exports overseas, for activities such as consumer
advertising, public relations, market research, and technical assistance.83 FMD, also a cost-share
program, provides funds only to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations market U.S.
commodities overseas.84 EMP, a cost-share program with a focus on “emerging markets,”
provides funds for technical assistance to U.S. private or government entities with a role or
interest in U.S. agricultural export.85
79 FSA, “Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP),” https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/noninsured-
disaster-assistance-program-nap.
80 FSA, “Tree Assistance Program (TAP),” https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/tree-assistance-program-tap.
7 U.S.C. §9081(e); 7 C.F.R. §§1416.400-1416.407.
81 7 U.S.C. §9081(d); 7 C.F.R. §§1416.101-1416.113. FSA, “Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and
Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP),” https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/emergency-assistance-livestock-honeybeesfarm-raised-fish-elap.
82 7 U.S.C. §5623. For more on export promotion at USDA, see CRS Report R47836, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural
Service: An Overview, by Benjamin Tsui and CRS In Focus IF12155, Farm Bill Primer: Trade and Export Promotion
Programs, by Benjamin Tsui.
83 7 U.S.C. §5623(b); 7 C.F.R. §§1485.10-1485.38. Market Access Program (MAP) funds must be matched at a
minimum of 10% for marketing and promotion activities. A dollar-for-dollar match is required for promotion of a
branded product. Organizations eligible to receive MAP funds include U.S. agricultural trade associations,
cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and small businesses. FAS, “Market Access Program (MAP),” https://www.
fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map; and FAS, “MAP Funding Allocations – FY2025,”
https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/market-access-program-map/map-funding-allocations-fy-2025.
84 7 U.S.C. §5623(c). 7 C.F.R. Part 1484. FAS, “Foreign Market Development Program,” https://www.fas.usda.gov/
programs/foreign-market-development-program-fmd.
85 7 U.S.C. §5623(d). 7 C.F.R. Part 1486. FAS, “Emerging Markets Program,” https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/
emerging-markets-program-emp. An emerging market is defined as “any country, foreign territory, customs union, or
other economic market” that is “taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, agriculture, or rural
business sectors of its economy” and “has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for United States
agricultural commodities” 7 U.S.C. §5623(d)(1).
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Selected Recent Legislation and Issues for
Congress86
The 119th Congress is addressing specialty crop support programs impacting marketing and
promotion, pest and disease management, commodity assistance, disaster assistance, export
assistance, research, and crop insurance. Related legislation has been enacted (P.L. 119-21), and
other measures have been introduced, as discussed below. In addition, committees have held
related hearings. For instance, the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held hearings related to the agriculture economy in light of
the next farm bill.87 The specialty crop industry has expressed its farm bill priorities, including
changes to commodity assistance programs, disaster assistance, export assistance, nutrition
programs, research, marketing and promotion, pest and disease management, and crop
insurance.88 Some stakeholders have expressed concerns with some of these industry
approaches.89
P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 reconciliation law, has many provisions relating to the specialty crops
programs discussed above.90 Additionally, Congress is considering proposals that would affect
specialty crops, some of which were included in the farm bill proposals in the 118th Congress
(H.R. 8467 and S. 5335). P.L. 119-21 increases mandatory funding for SCBGP to $100 million in
FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.91 This mirrors the increase proposed in H.R. 8467 in the
118th Congress; that bill also would have altered state plan requirements and extended the
program to 2029.92 P.L. 119-21 increases mandatory funding for PPDMDP to $90 million for
FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter. These funding levels match the amounts proposed in H.R.
8467 and S. 5335 in the 118th Congress. Further, the law increases mandatory funding to $175
million for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter for SCRI. Additionally, it extends the Citrus
Disease Trust Fund at current funding levels through FY2031.
In FY2026 appropriations deliberations, the House has requested a report on the efforts of the
Citrus Disease Trust Fund related to citrus greening research.93 The Senate, in FY2026
appropriations deliberations, has requested that NIFA increase the number of projects related to
organic agriculture, “winter growing techniques,” and specialty crop mechanization and
automation.94 Similar provisions and funding amounts were considered in H.R. 8467 and S. 5335
86 This section identifies selected legislative proposals and actions. It does not reflect all potentially relevant 118 th
Congress measures or actions or 119th Congress measures or actions to date.
87 See footnote 3.
88 SCFBA, 2024 Farm Bill Final Policy Recommendations.
89 See, for example, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, “NSAC News,” https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/
release-congress-sends-reconciliation-bill-to-presidents-desk-cannibalizing-american-food-and-farm-system/.
90 For additional context on P.L. 119-21, see CRS Insight IN12559, Selected Horticultural Provisions in FY2025
Budget Reconciliation (P.L. 119-21, Title I), by Renée Johnson; and CRS Insight IN12573, Budget Reconciliation:
Farm Bill Programs Without a Budget Baseline and Trade Promotion, Research, Horticulture, and Animal Health
Programs with a Budget Baseline, by Jim Monke.
91 P.L. 119-21 does not change the duration of authorization for SCBGP, which was authorized from FY2005 to
FY2025 through the 2018 farm bill and two subsequent extensions.
92 S. 5335 would have increased mandatory funding to $175 million and included changes to state plan requirements.
93 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany H.R. 4121, 119th Congress, 1st
sess., H.Rept. 119-172, June 25, 2025, p. 25.
94 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
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(118th Congress proposals). A proposal in the 119th Congress would waive the matching funds
requirement for SCRI (H.R. 3656). H.R. 8467 and S. 5335 of the 118th Congress also would have
waived the matching funds requirement for SCRI and allocated funding to specialty crop
mechanization research.
P.L. 119-21 created the Supplemental Agricultural Trade Promotion Program with $285 million in
mandatory funding beginning in FY2027 and each year thereafter. In earlier action, the Housereported version of H.R. 1 contained provisions that would have extended MAP, TASC, EMP, and
FMD through 2031 and increased mandatory funding for MAP and FMD while maintaining
funding levels for EMP and TASC.95 These provisions were not included in H.R. 1 as enacted.
H.R. 8467 and S. 5335 (118th Congress) would have introduced new reporting requirements on
competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop exports impacting TASC.
P.L. 119-21 makes changes to nutrition programs (specifically SNAP and TEFAP).96 Some
changes to these and other nutrition programs were included in 118th Congress bills—H.R. 8467
and S. 5335. These changes would have impacted specialty crops.97 The law also made changes to
specialty crop provisions in federal crop insurance.98 Similar provisions and others were
considered in H.R. 8467 and S. 5335.99
Further, P.L. 119-21 makes changes to adjusted gross income limits to receive payments from
disaster assistance programs such as NAP, TAP, and ELAP.100 It makes changes to mortality rates
needed to receive payments for TAP and honey bee mortality rates to receive ELAP payments.
Similar changes proposed in legislation in the 119th Congress (H.R. 2156/S. 984). In the 118th
Congress, H.R. 8467 and S. 5335 considered similar provisions with respect to adjusted gross
income and TAP eligibility.101
Members of the 119th Congress have introduced other legislation with specialty crop provisions
that were not included in P.L. 119-21. Certain bills would provide funding for specialty crop
research (H.R. 2084/S. 1042). Others would aim to prohibit citrus imports from China (H.R.
1507/S. 947).102 Some proposals would modify the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
to include legumes and frozen products (e.g., H.R. 1782/S. 813). Two proposals would expand the
Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program to include tree nuts (H.R. 2379/S. 1145).
Additionally, some proposals would impact federal crop insurance offerings for specialty crops
(H.R. 292, H.R. 1613/S. 741, S. 231).
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany S. 2256, 119th Congress, 1st
sess., S.Rept. 119-37, July 10, 2025, p. 42.
95 U.S. Congress, House, Comparative Print: Bill to Bill Differences Comparing the base document BILLS-119pih with
RCP_119-3_Final, 119th Cong., May 18, 2025.
96
For more on the proposals, see CRS Report R48552, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and
Related Nutrition Programs in P.L. 119-21: An Overview.
97 For more on the nutrition title in H.R. 8467, see CRS Report R48167, The 2024 Farm Bill: H.R. 8467 Compared
with Current Law, coordinated by Frank Gottron.
98 For more, see CRS Report R48574, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1): Title I, Farm Safety Net and Miscellaneous
Provisions, coordinated by Stephanie Rosch.
99 For more on the crop insurance title in H.R. 8467, see CRS Report R48167, The 2024 Farm Bill: H.R. 8467
Compared with Current Law, coordinated by Frank Gottron.
100 For more information on these programs in P.L. 119-21, see CRS Report R48574, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.
1): Title I, Farm Safety Net and Miscellaneous Provisions, coordinated by Stephanie Rosch.
101 H.R. 8467 would have required USDA to reevaluate the mortality rate for honey bees in ELAP provisions.
102 Similar legislation was introduced in the 118th Congress (H.R. 2536).
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Additional provisions directed at specialty crops were part of the farm bills considered by the
118th Congress and may be of potential interest to the 119th Congress. H.R. 8467 and S. 5335
would have introduced an interagency group to support fruit and vegetable trade.103 In addition,
H.R. 8467 and S. 5335 would have extended the authorization of appropriations to SCMN.
Author Information
Zachary T. Neuhofer
Analyst in Agricultural Policy
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
103 For more on H.R. 8467, see CRS Report R48167, The 2024 Farm Bill: H.R. 8467 Compared with Current Law,
coordinated by Frank Gottron.
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