To Members of the NASULGC System
- Board on Agriculture Assembly
- Budget and Advocacy Committee
- Council on Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching

Earlier today,  the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the Administration's F.Y. 2009 budget request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA Secretary Ed Schaefer was the witness for the Department. He  was accompanied by Deputy Secretary Chuck Connor and budget and economic assistants. Subcommittee members in attendance included Herb Kohl (D-WI), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Larry Craig (R-ID), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Jack Reed (D-RI).

The hearing did not last long. After opening statements by Chairman Kohl and Ranking Member Bennett, Secretary Schafer read his prepared remarks. The questions focused primarily on: (1) food safety in light of the Westland/Hallmark Meat recall; and (2) the difficult budgetary situation which lies ahead as both the Administration and Congress deal with high dairy and cereal prices and the national economic slowdown, factors which will make USDA nutrition and international assistance programs (e.g. the Women, Infants, and Children and PL 480 programs) more expensive this year than last.

While there was only one specific question about CSREES research, education, and extension programs -- Sen. Craig asked about the effects of the proposed Hatch Act reductions -- several senators expressed their concern about the proposed cuts to CSREES programs. Senators Bennett, Craig, Cochran, and Specter all raised this issue. Secretary Schafer acknowledged their concerns, but with respect to the proposed $185 million in reductions to CSREES, he responded that "a lot of that is earmarks" and "USDA felt it must do its part" to help meet the Administration's goal of "achieving a balanced federal budget by 2012."

Sen. Craig said that he and other senators would oppose the Administration's proposed cuts to CSREES, expressing the opinion that "the value of the land-grant system is that local and regional research programs -- when viewed from the 30,000 foot level -- serve the national interest as well."

The Cornerstone Team