Today the President released his FY 2013 Budget Proposal. Information on USDA can be viewed here - http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/agriculture.pdf. Language related to USDA AFRI:
“Increases the 2012 funding level for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to $325 million and targets areas that are key to American scientific leadership: human nutrition and obesity reduction; food safety; sustainable bioenergy; global food security; and climate change.”
Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics (REE) and Chief Scientist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), posted a new REE Action Plan. The plan is located here - http://www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_02-2012.pdf.
In an effort to improve the quality of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, NIFA is again holding a public meeting and soliciting public comments for consideration in the development of future AFRI program solicitations. The AFRI Stakeholder Listening Session will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 8 am–5 pm at USDA–NIFA, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th Street, SW, Room 1410, Washington, DC 20024. To learn more about and/or register for the session, please visit: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri_listen_session.html.
Join us for a one hour AAEA Extension Section and C-FARE Webinar on “Regional Perspectives on Economic Forces Shaping Land Asset Values” on 12/13 at noon ET.
To join visit:
http://www.msuextensionconnect.org/aginuncertaintimes/
In addition, you can access related information on Land Values through the Second Quarter 2011 Choices Theme on “Farmland Values” -
http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/farmland-values
AGree, an initiative designed to transform long-term agricultural, food and rural policy issues, has released a new report, “Review of U.S. Farm Programs,” that provides a comprehensive overview of federal farm programs (farm support, disaster assistance, insurance, specialty crop and conservation programs), including historical background and information about the distribution of benefits. It is the first in a series of backgrounders the initiative is publishing to lay the groundwork for common understanding in discussions across diverse stakeholders on the future of food and agriculture policy. The report was authored by Stephanie Mercier, former chief economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee, and does not necessarily represent the views of AGree, the initiative said. AGree commissioned the report in an effort to provide context for discussions on the complex issue of U.S. farm support policy, a hot topic of the current debate on the federal agriculture budget and the Farm Bill. Beginning at the onset of farm support in America, the report covers how the U.S. arrived at its current policy nearly 80 years later, noting, “Policy makers have not moved very far from their original rationale, even though the structure and composition of U.S. agriculture has changed considerably.” AGree has also posted webcasts of Mercier presenting a PowerPoint slide summary of the report and a PowerPoint slide overview of federal agriculture spending. The report and webcasts can be found on AGree’s website at: http://www.foodandagpolicy.org/policy/introduction.
