The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2017 Agriculture and Energy and Water spending bills earlier this week, funding agricultural research and rural development programs important to soy growers.

The $147.7 billion agriculture appropriations bill includes $3 million allocated to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote better understanding of biotech science among consumers. Earlier this week, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and several other ag groups urged the House Appropriations committee in a letter to support the inclusion of funds to better educate the public about the application of biotechnology to food and agricultural production. (Click here to read letter). 

However, ASA is concerned with a litany of cuts to conservation programs authorized in the farm bill, including $300 million from the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), $113 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and a reduction in the funds available for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to $46.5 million. The association maintains a policy position opposing cuts to any farm bill program, as well as opposing the opening of the farm bill to restructure such programs.

According to Politico, some Democrats criticized the $250 million allocation for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), saying it would underfund the agency. President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget proposed a 32 percent increase to $330 million for the commission.

Among the positives for soybean growers in the $37.4 billion Energy & Water Appropriations bill, is a prohibition on the use of funds to implement the controversial Clean Water Rule, also known as Waters of the United States (WOTUS).

Additionally, the bill boosts funding for waterways infrastructure to record levels, including $6.1 billion in overall funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Included in that overall number is $1.946 billion for the USACE Construction account, $3.157 billion for the Operations and Maintenance account, and $1.263 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.