To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to enhance the ability to produce fruits and vegetables on soybean base acres.

February 26, 2004

Mr. LUGAR introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to enhance the ability to produce fruits and vegetables on soybean base acres.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Farming Flexibility Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. PRODUCTION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR PROCESSING ON SOYBEAN BASE ACRES.

Section 1101 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7911) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(i) PRODUCTION OF FRUITS OR VEGETABLES FOR PROCESSING-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the producers on a farm may reduce the base acres for soybeans for the farm if the reduced acres are used for the planting and production of fruits or vegetables for processing.

`(2) REVERSION TO SOYBEAN BASE ACRES- Any reduced acres of a farm devoted to the planting and production of fruits or vegetables during a crop year under paragraph (1) shall be included in base acres for soybeans for the subsequent crop year, unless the producers on the farm make the election described in paragraph (1) for the subsequent crop year.

`(3) RECALCULATION OF BASE ACRES-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B), if the Secretary recalculates base acres for a farm, the planting and production of fruits or vegetables for processing under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be the same as the planting, prevented planting, or production of soybeans.

`(B) AUTHORITY- Nothing in this subsection provides authority for the Secretary to recalculate base acres for a farm.'.

END