More than 90 stakeholder groups, including AIBS, have called on legislators to increase overall funding allocations for Appropriations Committees in Fiscal Year 2022, as well as the respective allocations for Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees, in order to significantly increase discretionary funding for crucial U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.
The letter reads, in part: “According to USDA’s Economic Research Service, ‘agriculture, food, and, related industries contributed $1.109 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, a 5.2-percent share,’ and account for 10.9 percent of U.S. employment. Farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers are the lifeblood of our rural communities. Strengthening investments in USDA programs will help rebuild our rural communities, provide additional resources for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers, enhance our agriculture and food system, provide solutions to climate change, and protect our national security.”