WASHINGTON – In the 2023 budget rollout by the Biden Administration this week, several projects from the US Department of Agriculture were highlighted, including more than $10 million for oversight and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

In his statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the budget builds upon the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to create a fairer, more competitive and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain. 

The proposed budget also supports the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to help small and very small processing facilities reduce user fees. 

Another item in the proposal was money to support agriculture and livestock industries innovation, including $22 million for dairy business innovation initiatives. 

Other budget items include $1.18 billion in funding to address climate change across the agricultural land. The budget also looks at $1 billion for landowners to undertake conservation and climate-smart practices. 

Another $135 million is being proposed to protect and restore watersheds. A $618 million investment was already approved in the infrastructure bill in November 2021.

The new budget also asks for $285 million for forest restoration activities on National Forest Service lands and $5 million for Forest inventory and analysis.

All of the USDA information about the Biden Administration's 2023 Budget can be found here.