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USDA budget in the spotlight

capitol-d.c.The USDA budget will be the focus of several Congressional hearings this week.

On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Ag Subcommittee will hear perspective on USDA’s budget from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture will hear testimony this week from administrators of USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Rural Development; Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service; and the Risk Management Agency.

As those hearings regarding the USDA budget and ag policy issues take place, the House and Senate Budget Committees will also be holding important meetings that have potential ramifications for the Farm Bill.

According to a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition blog, there is speculation that the House and Senate Ag Committees will be instructed to cut 20 billion dollars, over 10 years, from the 2014 Farm Bill. The group says it seems likely that food stamps or SNAP might be the main reconciliation target.  But it adds that cuts to commodity programs, crop insurance, and conservation programs could also be on the table should reconciliation instructions be approved by the Budget Committees.

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