Senate Appropriations Subcommittee approves FY22 agriculture appropriations bill

August 12, 2021

This past week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee approved the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY22. The legislation will provide $25.855 billion in discretionary spending, up $2.5 billion from the FY21 agriculture appropriations bill.  The bill includes $3.6 billion for agricultural research programs, $1.125 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), $1.17 billion for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), $1.15 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and $6.27 billion for Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs (SNAP).

The funds provided to FSIS will be partially used to carry out services authorized by the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Egg Products Inspection Act. The House passed its agricultural appropriations bill in June, with a total of $26.55 billion in discretionary spending. In the coming months, House and Senate appropriators will need to conference to decide what goes into the final package. Due to the bipartisan infrastructure bill, as well as the budget reconciliation process that will likely take up time this fall, Congress is expected to pursue a Continuing Resolution to avoid the fiscal year deadline and keep funding at the same levels, until a final package can be negotiated.