It will be a busy week in the nation’s Capitol as lawmakers work to pass multiple spending bills in order to avoid a government shutdown. At the center of those discussions is spending for USDA.
Preparing a budget has been a bumpy road, and Politico reports there have been some heated discussions over spending cuts, and limits on the commodity credit corporation. However, House lawmakers are not due back to Washington until Wednesday, just two days before the deadline for USDA.
The FDA is also on deadline, and if the government were to shut down, both agencies would be limited to only essential operations. This could impact programs like SNAP as well as food inspections.
As lawmakers work out those details, other ag events will be happening in Washington this week. Later today, President Biden is expected to meet with congressional leaders about budget discussions. On Wednesday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will appear before the Senate Ag Committee. On Friday, Vilsack will join the EPA at Commodity Classic. It is the same day the White House is expected to announce its update to the GREET model, and it could have large implications on the future of ethanol production.
