Ag Stimulus Plan

The $789.5 billion stimulus package contains about $300 billion in tax cuts and an additional $311 billion in discretionary spending. Some key agricultural priorities that reportedly made it in the stimulus include:

• $50 million for maintaining and
upgrading USDA computer systems;

• $176 million to address infrastructure needs at Agricultural Research Service facilities;

• $20.4 million for direct farm operating loans, which will fund $173 million in loans to farmers;

• $1.38 billion for water and waste
disposal facilities, which will support $3.78 billion in loans and grants;

• $2.5 billion for broadband grants, loans and loan guarantees to be administered by the USDA Rural Utility Service;

• $4.7 billion for competitive grants to
accelerate broadband deployment in
unserved and underserved areas;

• $130 million for the rural community facilities program;

• $290 million for flood prevention
projects; and

• $50 million for watershed rehabilitation projects.

The conference agreement also includes language to allow Commodity Credit Corporation funds to be used for administrative expenses and technical assistance in implementing the 2008 Farm Bill over the next two fiscal years, which should allegedly help USDA with timely implementation.