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In a five-page statement to the Senate and House agriculture committees and appropriations committees, the American Farm Bureau Federation has explained why discretionary funding should be maintained and even increased for several agencies and programs.
The letter notes, "Farm Bureau has identified three areas as priorities for discretionary funding in fiscal year 2006. They are: BSE and animal identification, programs to increase agricultural exports, and crop protection."
There are specific dollar budget requests included in the letter and explanations about what shortfalls in funding will mean to American farmers and ranchers. This funding is separate from mandatory funding voted upon in the budget resolutions of both the Senate and House in late March.
"Industry estimates of the U.S. Animal Identification Plan forecast an ongoing cost of about $100 million per year to effectively implement such a system. If the government were to fund $33 million each year (the same as their FY05 and FY06 requests), two-thirds of the cost of the National Animal Identification System would be funded by producers and affected industries. Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to bear the brunt of the cost of this program, especially when most of the benefit will accrue to the general public," AFBF reports.
"We support an increase of $7.5 million for an enhanced bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) research program. The additional research funding would allow Agriculture Research Service scientists to increase our understanding of the disease and develop the technology needed by regulatory agencies to establish science-based policies and control programs," the letter notes.
"Funding for Biotech Regulatory Service personnel and activities are essential for ensuring public confidence and international acceptance of biotechnology products. AFBF supports increased spending of $4.5 million in this area because it will enable the USDA to increase inspections of genetically modified crop field test sites and enhance its capacity to regulate transgenic animals, arthropods and disease agents," AFBF contends.
In total, the letter requests appropriate discretionary funding for agencies and programs that have bearing on AFBF policy priorities, including:
• Federal biodiesel use and other renewable fuels.
• Animal identification implementation.
• BSE-related testing, research and facilities.
• Economic benefit and scientific analysis for registering crop protection products.
• Integrated pest management and pesticide minor use research and implementation.
• State Cooperative Extension services.
• Export development and expansion consistent with World Trade Organization agreements.
• Plant and animal health monitoring and pest detection.
