NFU Statement: Salazar to Lead Interior Department — 12|18|08
Friday, January 16, 2009
Federal Budget
The United States spends less than half of one percent of all federal spending on agricultural programs. Unfortunately, this limited investment in our nation’s food production is often under attack and agriculture’s limited funds often sought after for other purposes.
The 2002 Farm Bill was crafted in such a manner that more than $20 billion of savings have been realized. Despite the fiscal responsibility of the policy, Congress is faced with writing a new agricultural policy with significantly reduced funds.
If all sectors of federal spending had been as fiscally responsible as agriculture, our nation may not be in today’s sea of red ink.
National Farmers Union has consistently urged Congress to not only resist cutting funds for agriculture through budget reconciliation actions or appropriations efforts, but to restore the budget baseline we lost as a result of saving money. 
