Market News & Headlines >> Spending Bill Impacts for Agriculture

The Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which passed both houses of Congress last week, includes several sections that will impact agricultural producers. The Agriculture section included more than $316 million in competitive grants for research into areas such as biotechnology, weed science and input management. The Food for Peace Program, PL-480, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition received almost $1.5 billion and $185 million, respectively. Both send U.S. ag commodities to countries in need. USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service received $161.2 million and was instructed to resume reports it had suspended, including oilseed crush, meaning the industry no longer will have to rely solely on the National Oilseed Processors’ Association data.

Perhaps just as important are provisions in the Energy & Water section of the bill, which will significantly increase funding for waterways infrastructure.