Source: NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler, NCDA&CS, 1/21/14

The House and Senate both easily passed HR 3547: Space Launch Liability Indemnification Extension Act, or the Omnibus Spending Bill, on Jan. 15 and 16. The passage of the bill funds the federal government through September 2014 and averts another government shutdown. Some highlights for agriculture:
•      APHIS: $821.7 million (same as FY13)
•      FSA: $1.5 billion (same as FY13)
•      Rural Development: $2.4 billion (increase of $180 million from FY 13)
•      FSIS: $1 billion (decrease of $19 million from FY13)
•      FDA: $2.6 billion (increase of $91 million FY13 – includes $85 million to restore the loss of funds due to sequester)
•      Cuts $49 million from biofuels program (identified as low priority) and eliminates the Pesticide Recordkeeping Program

While the huge task of passing an omnibus spending bill took place in about a month (from the passage of the Ryan-Murray budget deal in December), Congress has yet to pass a farm bill. While it has been said that dairy policy, nutrition cuts and payment limits were holding up the negotiations, it is now rumored that agreements are close to being final and the bill could be brought up the week of Jan. 27. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has said that he would delay implementation of 1949 Permanent Law until it is clear that there would not be a farm bill, and USDA is currently working to make sure it will be able to implemenet the programs once a bill is passed.