Ag programs, CFTC take cuts in House agriculture appropriations bill

May 24, 2011 | 08:30 AM | Filed in: Budget Crop insurance Commodities Futures Trading Commission Nutrition Food and Drug Administration

Crop insurance, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, nutrition programs and other key Agriculture Department programs would take cuts under the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill that the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee released late Monday in anticipation of a markup today.

The bill totals $17.2 billion in discretionary spending, a cut of more than $2.6 billion over the fiscal year 2011 bill and more than $5 billion below President Barack Obama’s request. The bill also makes cuts in mandatory programs.

The bill funds nutrition programs at $90 billion, $2 billion less than the president’s request, but House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jack Kingston, R-Ga., said that funding level will allow all participants to receive the benefits available to them.

The bill includes:

$2.2 billion for agricultural research, $354 million less than last year’s level
$790 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, $73 million below last year’s level
$770 million for conservation, $99 million less than last year’s level
$2.1 billion for rural development, $338 million less than last year’s level
$973 million for the Foods Safety and Inspection Service, $35 million below last year’s level.

The bill also provides $2.2 billion for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a cut of $285 million.