President Signs Ag Appropriations Bill

President Bush on Nov. 10 signed the $100.9 billion fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill. NCBA staff and volunteers worked on Capitol Hill to ensure that NCBA priorities were considered during the long-winded appropriations process. 

The bill holds spending below last year’s level. Budget concerns likely will force additional cuts next year. Bush said, “This legislation is an important step forward in our efforts to rein in spending while maintaining our commitment to America’s farmers and consumers.”

The final bill included:

•        Implementation of the current mandatory country of origin labeling program has been delayed for two years (until Sept. 30, 2008) on all commodities except fish and seafood, which is already in place. This delay will allow industry and government time to develop a workable program. 

•        A ban on funding for inspecting facilities that process horses has been delayed for 120 days. 

The language also was changed to allow these plants to operate on a “fee-for-service” basis, which allows them to pay for USDA inspectors. 

•       $5 million in funding was earmarked for habitat restoration for sage grouse through Farm Bill programs.

•       Funding for continued enhancement of our nation’s animal health infrastructure includes: the National Animal Identification System ($33 million); BSE surveillance ($17 million); BSE research ($2.3 million); BSE research, feed regulation, and inspections by the Food and Drug Administration ($29 million); cattle tick research ($7.6 million); tropical bont tick research ($426,000); veterinary biologics and diagnostics ($38.4 million); and completion of the National Center for Animal Health in Ames, Iowa ($59 million).