USDA Research and Forest Service Slated for Cuts in FY 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is slated to receive $20.8 billion in FY 2020, $3.6 billion below FY 2019. The proposed budget for research, education, and economics at USDA is 8.2 percent below the FY 2019 level. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which partners with extramural academic institutions to conduct research, education, and extension activities, would receive $1.4 billion (-5 percent) in FY 2020. Within NIFA, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) would receive funding at $500 million (+20 percent) for competitive extramural research grants. Lower priority programs such as Renewable Resources Extension Act (-$4 million), Animal Health and Disease Research (-$4 million), Crop Protection and Pest Management Activities (-$20 million) and the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative (-$8 million) would be eliminated. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and Extension is slated to receive $19 million (-$18 million) in FY 2020. The Budget provides $9.5 million to relocate NIFA outside the National Capital Region. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) would receive $1.25 billion in FY 2020, $431 million below FY 2019. ARS conducts intramural research in the areas of natural and biological science. Funding for seven out of eight research areas within ARS would decrease, resulting in an overall budget of $1.08 billion (-$73 million). Research on livestock protection would increase by 6 percent. Research in support of...
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news