Biden Budget Stresses Rural Broadband, Food Security

President Biden’s initial USDA budget proposal for next fiscal year stresses priorities for rural America including broadband, waterways, clean energy and food security. At nearly 28 billion dollars, Biden’s fiscal year 2022 USDA spending plan is a 16-percent boost or almost four billion more than this year. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told last month’s Agri-Pulse forum, infrastructure goes beyond ‘gray’ projects, into green ones…

Rural clean energy development, including possible carbon credits, will get a one-point-four billion dollar boost. And producers will also benefit if Biden’s push for an additional billion dollars spent on feeding programs goes through…

The president’s early budget blueprint would also set up an equity commission to review farm programs and increase funding for USDA civil rights enforcement. Increases are also proposed for stimulus programs announced last month, and toward programs in Biden’s infrastructure package.