JOHANNS ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2008 AGRICULTURE BUDGET


JOHANNS ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2008 AGRICULTURE BUDGET
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Feb. 5 released details of President Bush's 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget. Total USDA expenditures are estimated at about $89 billion for 2008, roughly the same level as 2007.
About 75 percent of the budget, or $67 billion, will be for mandatory programs that provide services required by law, which include many of the nutrition assistance, commodity, export promotion and conservation programs.
Among the discretionary programs are several of interest to the fruit and vegetable industry. Those include Domestic Nutrition Assistance Participation and Funding, Farm Bill Conservation Program Funding and Program Enrollment, ongoing conservation work, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, rural development programs, rural rental assistance, financial and technical assistance for rural business, and electric and telecommunications loans. The budget also includes $2.4 billion to support the USDA’s research program.
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