A federal food safety bill piles more burdens on fruit and vegetable farmers but stops short of delivering the wallop initially feared, lawmakers and agriculture experts say.

The 1,500-page climate change bill that has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting its day in the Senate promises to leave less change in the pockets of the public, according to Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and industry experts.

Agriculture trending toward small residential farms, large industrial operations

Senator discusses benefits of recently passed farm bill