WASHINGTON–Some of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which was passed out of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday, will have a direct impact on the Delta.
The bill, which may now be considered by the full Senate, makes way in the budget for fiscal year 2026 for the following:
$23.9 million for the USDA Rural Development Circuit Rider Program to assist the Mississippi Rural Water Association and other water associations across the country respond to water system failures.
$13.5 million for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to carry out watershed and flood prevention improvements in Mississippi watersheds.
$22.5 million for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance, testing, management and response activities, $12.5 million of which is for state departments of agriculture and wildlife, research universities and institutions to respond to CWD. It also provides additional resources to combat new world screwworm and avian influenza outbreaks.
$1 million for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to combat cormorants on Mississippi catfish operations.
$3.25 million for improving efficiency for catfish aquaculture, while also maintaining funding for warmwater aquaculture research, and other catfish-related priorities.
$10 million for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which offsets the educational loans of veterinarians serving in rural veterinary shortage areas.
$4 million for the Veterinary Services Grant Program.
$1.0 million to continue the Agricultural Marketing Service Cattle Contract Library to strengthen price discovery in cattle markets.
$40 million for the Distance, Learning, and Telemedicine Program, including $3 million for Delta Health Care Services (Delta Health Alliance).
$1.5 million for the Institute of Child Nutrition at the University of Mississippi, which is in addition to the $5 million in mandatory funding the Institute received annually.
Report language/directives pertaining to: APHIS evaluation of aerial fleet status; Rural News and Advertising Campaigns; Patient Medication Information; and botanical dietary supplements.
The bill also closes the hemp loophole that resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products being sold across the country.
“I’m grateful that this agriculture appropriations bill is moving forward because of the Majority Leader’s intention to allow the Senate to take up and debate it. I hope this return to regular order will mean we can enact a bill that will support agricultural production, research, rural communities, and nutrition programs in Mississippi,” said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who serves on both the subcommittee and the Senate Ag Committee.
“Our Senate bill was written in a fiscally-responsible manner that addresses many of the priorities given to me by Mississippians involved in our state’s largest economic driver.”
