A key government report that provides critical data on floral industry products will be published in 2018 after a two-year hiatus.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent announcement that it will produce the 2018 Floriculture Crops Report is a dramatic example of the power SAF’s voice on Capitol Hill.
SAF initiated a strategic advocacy campaign to resume the publication of the report. That campaign included SAF members lobbying Congress to prioritize the report during SAF’s Congressional Action Days in March.
The floriculture industry considers the Floriculture Crops Report to be the benchmark in identifying market trends and projecting sales opportunities. The report shows trends in domestic production and helps show year-to-year direction. In addition, the report is used in determining government agricultural policy as well as providing data for academic studies.
The report is the only source of annual data on annual bedding and garden plants, potted herbaceous perennials, potted flowering plants for indoor and patio use, foliage plants for indoor or patio use, cut flowers, cut cultivated greens, and propagative floriculture materials.
Citing budget constraints, USDA decided it could not publish the report in 2016 and 2017 which deprived the floriculture industry of critical information it needs.
While securing funds for the 2108 report is a major success, SAF will continue to lobby for funding the 2019 report and beyond.
The successful efforts of SAF and its members in securing the publication of the Floriculture Crops Report follows on the other major success of the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative receiving $1 million shortly after that issue was taken to Capitol Hill during CAD as well.
SAF welcomed other industry organizations in a coalition effort to secure publication of the 2018 report. The coalition included the American Society for Horticultural Science, AmericanHort, CalFlowers, the California Cut Flower Commission, the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, and the Produce Marketing Association.
