Protecting America’s Orchardists and Nursery Tree Growers Act
Orchard and Nursery Tree Assistance Expansion
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with respect to the tree assistance program, and for other purposes.
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Agriculture for review. It is considered active, but no further meetings or votes have been scheduled at this time. There is no companion bill currently associated with this proposal.
Legislative Progress
The bill has bipartisan support and addresses practical farming issues, but standalone agricultural bills often face delays unless they are included in a larger Farm Bill package.
Key Points
- This bill expands a federal program that helps farmers replant trees, bushes, and vines after natural disasters. It would now cover damage caused by pests and diseases, rather than just insects and weather events.
- Farmers could qualify for financial help even if their trees are still alive but can no longer grow enough fruit to make a profit. It also removes rules that required farmers to prove a long history of production to get help.
- The plan gives growers more flexibility when they replant. They could choose different types of trees, plant them closer together, or even move them to a new location if the original spot is no longer healthy for growing.
- The government would be required to tell farmers if their application for help is approved or denied within 120 days. This change is meant to help farmers make decisions and start replanting their land much faster.
- The Secretary of Agriculture would have the power to waive limits on how many acres can be covered. This ensures that larger farms hit by major disasters can still get the support they need to stay in business.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with respect to the tree assistance program, and for other purposes.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.