Farmers Pleased with Farm Bill Overhaul

New York Farm Bureau commends Rep. Bill Owens’ efforts to get much needed language helping New York apple growers into the overall House version of the Farm Bill.

Its passage would mean a large savings for the fruit farmers who are coming off a tough spring season. The bill would amend the 1933 Apple Export Act to exempt bulk shipments of apples from U.S. inspection requirements when they are being shipped to Canada.

There isn’t a need for the inspections since Canada does not call for them. In turn, not only will it speed up the exporting process, but it would save New York apple producers $450,000 every year in inspection fees without impacting the relationship with Canadian importers.