The Protecting Our Produce Act establishes a five-year pilot program requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide financial assistance to domestic farmers when imports drive down prices for certain seasonal and perishable crops. The program covers asparagus, bell peppers, blueberries, cucumbers, and squash that are sold fresh and marketed within four weeks of harvest. Eligible farmers must have average annual incomes below $5 million and derive at least 75 percent of their income from farming. When the national market price for a covered crop falls below its average price from the previous five years (excluding the highest and lowest years), affected farmers in that region can receive payments based on the price difference and their recent production levels. The bill authorizes $200 million annually to fund the pilot program from 2025 through 2030.
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