Ag research gets boost in Senate appropriations bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee proposed a total of $23.33 billion in funding that was included in draft legislation released on Tuesday. The bill provides more than $3.3 billion for agricultural research programs. This includes $1.51 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and $1.54 billion for the National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA), including a $10 million increase for the Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI). This funding will support investments in the research and development of new technologies and varieties to improve the productivity, sustainability and quality of American agriculture. The bill also fully funds the President’s request to support the continued establishment of the National Bio & Agro-Defense Facility. Read more