Senate Passes Ag Spending Bill

Farm Progress reports that the U.S. Senate passed a $124.3 billion ag spending bill by a 80-17 vote. The House passed its version in July. More than two-thirds of the package goes for domestic food programs, including $61 billion for food stamps. Another provision in the bill adds $350 million to lift milk price supports by an estimated $1.50 per hundred weight, which should increase consumer milk prices.

Senators also broke with the president, who wanted to eliminate the ag department’s High Energy Cost Grant Program. This program provides money for electricity generation projects in places such as American Indian reservations, rural cooperatives and Alaska. The Senate voted 55-41 to keep the program. The $18 million program made it onto Obama’s roster of recommended cuts.

The Senate also agreed to scale back funding for the National Animal Identification System. Senators slashed funding from $14.6 million to $7.3 million and directed that the money be devoted only to proposed rule making, rather than to implementation. The House had eliminated all funding for the program for the next fiscal year.

Similarly, the House passed a companion ag spending legislation last month. The measure is now in talks to resolve conflicts.