President Obama on Friday signed H.R.2112, the conference report of a spending bill incorporating fiscal year 2012 agricultural program funding and a continuing resolution to fund most of the rest of the federal government through December 16. The agriculture agencies and programs in this bill will receive a total of $136.6 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, a reduction of $4.6 billion from the president’s request.
Agricultural Research: The conference report provides more than $2.5 billion for the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This is a reduction of $53 million from fiscal year 2011. While trimming spending, this funding will support research on livestock and poultry diseases, food safety, and water quality.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: The bill includes $820 million–$47 million below last year’s level.
Natural Resource Conservation Service: The measure provides $844 million for the agency, a reduction of $45 million, and funds the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at $1.4 billion.
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): FSIS is funded at approximately the same level as last year and contains language to expand a poultry inspection pilot project that will lead to food safety improvements and help address new concerns with the pathogen E.coli.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): The report provides $205 million for the CFTC, a reduction of $103 million below the president’s request.
In addition, the bill fully funds both the Market Access Program (MAP) at $200 million and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) at $34.5 million. These programs share costs with agriculture producers for overseas promotion.
