Food safety remains top in USDA budget proposal

According to the USDA, the budget reflects President Bush's priorities to encourage economic growth and increase security, while also keeping spending under control. "The President's agriculture budget provides important resources that are necessary to promote economic opportunities and to preserve our commitment to our farmers, ranchers, rural citizens, and families in need," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. "This budget aims to enhance our country's vibrant ag economy, advance renewable energy, protect America's food supply, improve nutrition and health, and conserve our natural resources," he added. Total USDA expenditures are estimated at $89 billion in 2008, around the same level as 2007. Roughly 75 percent of the budget, or $67 billion, will be for mandatory programs that provide services required by law, which include many of the nutrition assistance, commodity, export promotion and conservation programs. USDA's discretionary programs account for the remaining 25 percent of expenditures or $22 billion in 2008, which is approximately the same level as 2007. Discretionary programs include the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, rural development loans and grants, and research and education. The USDA's budget for food safety for the year is set at a "record" level of $1.1bn, in funding for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). "This funding will ensure that the demand for inspection is met and will allow us to build on our success in improving the safety of the food supply. It will also strengthen the Food Emergency Response Network. This national network of food safety laboratories increases the speed with which we can detect and respond to outbreaks of foodborne illness," said the agency. The budget also includes $16m to design a new poultry research facility for conducting research on avian diseases, as well as $82m to fund ongoing avian influenza programs. The budget also "fully funds" the expected requirements for USDA's three major nutrition assistance programs: Food Stamps, Child Nutrition and WIC, which combined account for over $56bn. Food Stamp participation is projected to decline from 26.3 million in 2007 to 26.2 million in 2008. The budget of $37bn includes resources to fully fund estimated Food Stamp participation, said the USDA. School Lunch participation is estimated to reach 31.5 million children each day. The budget provides a $632m increase in Child Nutrition Programs to accommodate this need for a total budget of $13.9bn. WIC participation will grow to 8.3 million participants per month, according to the agency. The budget proposes $5.5bn to support this level. Other priorities for the USDA's agricultural budget include the development of renewable energy resources, conservation reserve programs, farm support programs, rural development and research programs. For additional information regarding the 2008 budget proposal, click here .

Food safety remains top in USDA budget proposal

The safety of America's food supply again remains a government priority for next year, according to details released yesterday from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 2008 budget.

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