President Donald Trump on Thursday signed the $867 billion Farm Bill that Congress passed last week with bipartisan support.

The five-year Farm Bill ensures several items of funding that affect the tree fruit industry. Among them are continued support of work to fight pests and diseases, enhancement of the National Clean Plant Network funding, increased funding for specialty crop research and more funding for the Market Access Program which helps develop international markets for fruit.

Northwest Horticultural Council President Mark Powers said the council is continuing to review the legislation and will prepare an analysis of the impacts on the tree fruit industry.

–by Ross Courtney