The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) issued the following statement regarding the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 released by House Committee on Agriculture Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson:
“The North American Blueberry Council commends Chair Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for advancing farm bill legislation that strengthens the safety net for specialty crop producers, enhances the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and builds upon the critical investments made in H.R. 1 last year. Blueberries are a permanent crop requiring significant upfront capital investment and years of care before reaching full production, making effective and predictable risk management essential to long-term viability.
“The bill’s improvements to the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), including a prepayment option and recognition of fields that are no longer economically viable, will provide more practical and timely support for growers recovering from catastrophic losses. Coupled with enhancements to federal crop insurance and the establishment of a Specialty Crop Emergency Assistance Framework, these provisions represent important steps toward a more reliable, responsive safety net that helps U.S. blueberry growers remain competitive.”