LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — The House Appropriations Committee advanced the fiscal 2027 Agriculture-FDA funding bill on Thursday, moving another major spending measure forward while adjusting support across U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies. The bill cleared committee with bipartisan support and now heads toward possible House floor consideration.
The measure provides $22.5 billion for USDA, which is $675 million below the fiscal 2026 enacted level. Funding for APHIS held steady at $1.158 billion, while AMS was reduced by $6.8 million to $201.6 million. The Farm Service Agency was funded at $1.1 billion, down $19 million, and NRCS received $800 million, down $50 million.
Food safety funding moved the other direction. The Food Safety and Inspection Service received $1.23 billion, an increase from the previous year. The committee also backed language supporting APHIS work on foreign animal disease and pest mitigation.
That included support for $13.5 million for electronic identification tags in the Animal Disease Traceability program. The committee also reaffirmed USDA authority to transfer emergency funds under the Animal Health Protection Act for disease or pest response.
The bill also included report language on New World screwworm, urging APHIS to assess staffing, inspection capacity, and border reopening needs tied to livestock trade. The measure now moves closer to floor debate as appropriators turn next to the Interior-Environment bill.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The spending bill keeps animal health and traceability funding in place while trimming several other USDA accounts.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
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