the base text of this farm bill already removes all mandatory funding from vapg. now this amendment would make a bad situation worse by rescinding $8 million from vapg. the value-added producer grant is one of the only grant programs that goes directly to farmers. at a time when the farm economy is hurting, we should be helping farmers find new markets, not taking away opportunities to do so. usda's economic research service released a new report earlier this month. businesses that receive vapg support are less likely to fail than nonrecipient businesses, and businesses that receive this support also employ more workers than nonrecipient businesses. this amendment would also exclude beer, wine, distilled spirits and hard cider projects from being eligible for vapg. it is completely arbitrary and foolish to restrict these products. in my state of maine, there's been an explosion of craft breweries, distilleries and cideries that are contributing to the local economy. two years ago an orchard in maine received vapg money to increase production of hard cider and frui

the base text of this farm bill already removes all mandatory funding from vapg. now this amendment would make a bad situation worse by rescinding $8 million from vapg. the value-added producer grant is one of the only grant programs that goes directly to farmers. at a time when the farm economy is hurting, we should be helping farmers find new markets, not taking away opportunities to do so. usda's economic research service released a new report earlier this month. businesses that receive vapg support are less likely to fail than nonrecipient businesses, and businesses that receive this support also employ more workers than nonrecipient businesses. this amendment would also exclude beer, wine, distilled spirits and hard cider projects from being eligible for vapg. it is completely arbitrary and foolish to restrict these products. in my state of maine, there's been an explosion of craft breweries, distilleries and cideries that are contributing to the local economy. two years ago an orchard in maine received vapg money to increase production of hard cider and frui