Where Does Agriculture Stand In The Economic Stimulus Package?
Investment banks on Wall Street have been bailed out with billions of federal dollars. Funds have also been requested and discussed with various other segments of corporate America, as well as state governments, schools, as well as to indemnify mortgage bankers against falling real estate values. But have any funds been earmarked for agriculture? Farmers should not expect a check in the mailbox. However, more than $27 billion will be allocated for food and agriculture, out of the $825 billion economic stabilization plan being developed by the government to restart the US economy. The use of the funds are detailed in a new Congressional Research Service report distributed to Members of Congress in preparation for a vote in coming days. As of January 27, the report had not yet appeared on the CRS website. $27 billion represents 3.3% of the total economic stabilization plan, slightly more than the USDA portion of the federal budget, but more than $21 billion will be used for nutrition ass
