For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Release: President Announces Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture Spending
Washington, DC, Monday, March 13, 2023 — Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration released the summary of the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), and today released additional details. The proposal for FY24 (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024) outlines the Administration’s spending priorities for the coming fiscal year, and requests $30.1 billion in discretionary funding for USDA, a $3.8 billion or 14% percent increase/decrease from last year’s enacted level.
“This year’s Presidential Budget Request calls for modestly increased investments in a variety of programs that support farmer livelihoods, climate resilience, local and regional food systems, and urban agriculture. Most notably, we are encouraged to see the Administration’s strong support for full funding of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension (SARE) program at $60 million. Similarly, the budget proposes a much-needed increase for Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) up to $904 million in FY2024 – an essential component of supporting the adoption of climate-friendly conservation practices. Unfortunately, despite the increase to CTA, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) – which is funded through CTA – is zeroed out for FY2024, potentially withdrawing vital support and tools for grazers that are working to address climate change by building more management-intensive rotational grazing systems on the landscape,” said Mike Lavender, Policy Director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).
“The budget proposes maintaining the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program at $16 million, while increasing investment in the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMLFPP) by $7.5 million. VAPG and FMLFPP combine to make up the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). The Organic Transitions Program (ORG) would be funded at $8 million, reflecting a small increase above current funding. The Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) would be funded at $13.5 million, signifying a substantial increase from the previous year although well below its full authorization of $25 million,” noted Lavender.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
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