ASA, CSSA, and SSSA urge Congress to robustly fund ag research in FY23

October 17, 2022 - Rachel K. Owen

Today, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA sent a letter to Congressional Appropriations Committee leadership urging them to robustly fund agricultural research programs in FY23. The letter, led by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, was signed by 88 organizations across the agricultural research community. 

As Congress looks beyond the midterm election, the letter urged them to work together to come to an agreement on FY 2023 spending as soon as possible. The uncertainty created by short and long-term continuing resolutions has significant negative impacts on the research enterprise. As Congress moves forward to develop a final FY 2023 spending package, the letter encouraged them to support increased investments to advance food and agricultural research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Specifically, the letter urged Congressional leaders to make the following investments in the final FY 2023 spending agreement. 

  • Provide $1.768 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research (NIFA) as recommended in the House Agriculture Appropriations bill. 
    • Provide $500 million in funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) as recommended in the House Agriculture Appropriations bill. 
    • Provide $2 million in funding for the Research Facilities Act (RFA) as recommended in the House Appropriations Minibus bill. 
  • Provide $1.922 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) as recommended in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill. 
  • Provide at least $2 million in funding for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) as recommended in the House Agriculture Appropriations bill. 

Congress will return to Washington, DC after the midterm elections and hopes to pass a FY23 spending bill in the lame duck session before the new Congress starts in January 2023. In September, the House and Senate passed a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government under FY22 spending levels until December 16, 2022. 

You can read the full letter text here.