Highlights of the Agricultural Act of 2014 for Specialty Crops

The share of federal spending in the U.S. specialty crop industry has been small compared with support available for commodity crops. However, specialty crops gained considerable support in the Agricultural Act of 2014, also referred to as the 2014 farm bill. The bill increased funding levels for specialty crops by 55% to about $4 billion over ten years (United Fresh Produce Association, 2014). Most programs to solve critical needs of the specialty crop industry have been reauthorized and their funding levels have either increased or remained unchanged. Some of the existing programs were expanded and new programs were created.