Proposed Funding Increase for USDA Agricultural Research
January 1, 2021
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The Frame
The proposal supports a $647 million increase in USDA research funding, which would impact the availability of competitive grants for agricultural innovation, farmer technology access, and food safety initiatives.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Farmers, ranchers, and foresters
These groups are the primary recipients of agricultural research outcomes and technologies funded by USDA grants.
Technical schools and community colleges
These institutions receive NIFA funding for STEM education and innovative technology deployment.
SoAR Foundation
As an advocacy group, they are actively lobbying for specific appropriation levels in the federal budget.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2021.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- President Biden requested a $647 million increase for USDA research, education, and outreach programs for FY 2022.
- The total requested budget for USDA research programs is $4 billion.
- SoAR supports a $700 million appropriation specifically for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
- Food and agriculture sectors account for approximately 20% of U.S. economic activity and support nearly 20 million direct jobs.
- Historical data shows a $17 return on investment for every $1 spent on public agricultural R&D between 1910 and 2007.
- Approximately 75% of AFRI grant proposals deemed worthy by expert review panels currently go unfunded due to budget constraints.
- NASEM identified five priority research areas: Genomics, Microbiomes, Sensors, Data/Informatics, and Transdisciplinary research.
- Proposed research goals by 2030 include reducing agricultural water use by 20% and fertilizer use by 15%.
- Other 2030 goals include reducing foodborne illnesses by 50% and reducing livestock infectious disease epidemics.
- NIFA previously awarded $13 million across 17 projects to address COVID-19 challenges.
- NIFA invested $10.5 million in regional/national projects to support STEM education in technical and community colleges.
Why It Matters
The proposal supports a $647 million increase in USDA research funding, which would impact the availability of competitive grants for agricultural innovation, farmer technology access, and food safety initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)?
Why does the SoAR Foundation want more funding for agricultural research?
What are the five priority research areas identified for 2030?
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
1-800 Contacts, Inc.
2026
“Issues and legislative proposals related to contact lenses Issues related to the Federal Trade Commission Contact Lens Rule H.R.8773: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025 H.R. 9027: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 HR 4282 S. 3354, Curtis QUIET Act.”
ADOBE INC
2026
“IT Modernization and Digital Service delivery issues; Digital Service Delivery IT Acquisition, and Content Authenticity and digital provenance issues; Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI); artificial intelligence; content provenance; privacy; technology in and competition issues; AI innovation and the economy; Content provenance and AI Labelling; IT modernization; Support for H.R. 9112 - CREATOR Act”
AARP
2026
“P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology”
1-800 Contacts, Inc.
2026
“Issues and legislative proposals related to contact lenses Issues related to the Federal Trade Commission Contact Lens Rule H.R.8773: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025 H.R. 9027: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 HR 4282 S. 3354, Curtis QUIET Act.”
1-800 Contacts, Inc.
2026
“Issues and legislative proposals related to contact lenses Issues related to the Federal Trade Commission Contact Lens Rule H.R.8773: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025 H.R. 9027: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 HR 4282 S. 3354, Curtis QUIET Act.”
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS
HILLNORTH LLC
on behalf of POB VENTURES
HILLNORTH LLC
on behalf of POB VENTURES
HILLNORTH LLC
on behalf of POB VENTURES
1-800 Contacts, Inc.
2025
“Issues and legislative proposals related to contact lenses Issues related to the Federal Trade Commission Contact Lens Rule H.R.8773: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025 H.R. 9027: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 HR 4282 S. 3354, Curtis QUIET Act.”
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift toward competitive grants
The document highlights a trend where a high percentage (75%) of peer-reviewed, worthy research proposals are rejected due to lack of funds, suggesting a significant gap between scientific demand and federal supply.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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