Source: PRESS RELEASE, 12/20/19

Following the President’s signing of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865), NASDA praises Congress for increasing discretionary funding for critical food and agriculture programs. In March, NASDA outlined priorities to the committee.  Through this legislation, the committee included support for state cooperative programs and food safety, rural mental health and hemp production.

“NASDA extends a great thank you to Congressional appropriators for their work to financially support important programs that our nation’s farmers and ranchers depend on, including $16.5 million for implementation of the Hemp Production Program” NASDA CEO Dr. Barb Glenn said. “NASDA is also grateful for the committee’s dedication to the states’ work on implementing new ways to keep food safe and provide educational training to farmers. In addition, we’re proud that Congress is investing in our industry’s foundation—the health of our farmers and rural communities—through funding of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.”

NASDA successes in FY2020 appropriations include:
• $8 million for the Food Safety Outreach Program
• $7 million for Food Safety Modernization Act enhancements
• $16.5 million for implementation of the Hemp Production Program
• $2 million for CBD research, policy evaluation, market surveillance, issuance of an enforcement discretion policy, and appropriate regulatory activities with respect to products under jurisdiction of FDA which contain CBD
• $10 million for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, guaranteeing a second year of this program
• $24 million for pesticide program enforcement, an increase of $5.9 million over FY19
• $500,000 for addressing Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.