Johanns Outlines President Bush’s FY 2008 Agriculture Budget

Early this month, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns released details of President Bush's FY 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget, which meets the Department's most important priorities, while exercising fiscal discipline to meet the President's goal to balance the budget.
        "The President's agriculture budget provides important resources that are necessary to promote economic opportunities and to preserve our commitment to our farmers, ranchers, rural citizens, and families in need," said Johanns. "This budget aims to enhance our country's vibrant ag economy, advance renewable energy, protect America's food supply, improve nutrition and health, and conserve our natural resources."
        The 2008 budget reflects the President's priorities to encourage economic growth and increase our security. It also reflects the President's goal to keep spending under control and achieve a balanced budget.
        On January 31, the Administration announced a comprehensive set of Farm Bill proposals for strengthening the farm economy and rural America. Beginning in 2008, the budget incorporates a $500 million increase each year in the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) estimates to accommodate the cost of new farm bill proposals to be allocated among the various titles of the bill.
        Total USDA expenditures are estimated at about $89 billion in 2008, which is approximately the same level as 2007. Roughly 75 percent of expenditures, or $67 billion in 2008, will be for mandatory programs that provide services required by law, which include many of the nutrition assistance, commodity, export promotion and conservation programs.