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Agriculture Advocacy Organizations, Commodity Groups and Science Institutions Call for Doubling of USDA Research Budget

Oct 20, 2017

Washington, DC (October 20, 2017)—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) research, education, and extension budget should be doubled to $6 billion during the five-year life of the 2018 Farm Bill, according to a broad coalition of 63 organizations, including the American Soybean Association.

The coalition submitted its request today in a letter to House and Senate agriculture leadership.

“Modern agriculture is a science-based business,” said Richard Wilkins, Delaware farmer and Chairman of the American Soybean Association. “And yet, we as a nation are not investing enough in publicly funded research while China has doubled its commitments. We need to regain and maintain our nation’s place as the international leader.”