May 20, 1999

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a fiscal 2000 spending bill for agriculture that includes slightly more than $3 billion for farm loan authority. Rural housing loan authorizations total $4.8 billion, $581 million more than fiscal 1999. The bill now goes to the floor for approval.

Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses are increased $80.3 million over fiscal 1999 for a total of $794.8 million, the same as requested by the administration. FSA salaries and personnel have become an issue this year as county offices short of workers try to process an overwhelming number of farmer applications for various programs.

Agricultural research is increased by $61 million over fiscal 1999 for a total of $1.766 billion. However, the bill eliminates funding for a new competitive-grants research program created in 1998, potentially setting up a conflict with the Senate, where support for the new research spending is stronger. Child nutrition programs are funded at $9.547 billion, an increase of $370 million over fiscal 1999; the women, infants and children nutrition program is funded at $4 billion, an increase of $81 million from fiscal 1999; the Food Stamp Program is funded at about $22 billion, a decrease of $1 billion from fiscal 1999 that reflects declining participation due to an improved economy and lower unemployment.

Absent from the bill were any controversial provisions on dairy policy. Legislative efforts to expand regional pricing compacts, extend price supports and overrule USDA's changes to marketing orders are considered likely subjects of debate sometime this year.