USDA Action: CSREES requested increases in the SARE budget for both FY 2000 and FY 2001 in the President's Budgets.

For FY 2001, $15 million was requested for SARE, including $1.2 million for PDP.

Status: Unable to be implemented (code 3). However, for FY 2001, Congress appropriated $9.3 million for SARE research and $3.8 million for PDP, an increase of $1.8 million over FY 2000.

USDA Action: CSREES has requested increases in the SARE budget for both FY 2000 and FY 2001 in the President's Budgets.

For FY 2001, $15 million was requested for SARE, including $1.2 million for PDP.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001, Congress appropriated $9.3 million for SARE research and $3.8 million for PDP, an increase of $1.8 million over FY 2000.

USDA Action: In FY 2000, an increase of $2 million was requested, but Congress only increased the appropriated funding level from $1.3 million to $1.5 million.

For FY 2001, an increase of $500,000 was requested for ATTRA for a total program level of $2 million. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). FY 2001 funding for ATTRA was increased from $1.5 to $2 million. 

USDA Action: The FY 2000 and FY 2001 Budgets requested that the 2501 program be fully funded at $10 million.

Status: Unable to be implemented (code 3). For FY 2001, the 2501 programs received $3 million in direct Congressional appropriations.

In FY 2000, Congress also authorized $3 million in direct appropriation for the 2501 program while the Secretary allocated an additional $5.2 million from the Fund for Rural America to bring the total funding level in FY 2000 to $8.2 million.

1. $85 million per year for the Farm
   Ownership Direct Loans; and
   
2. $500 million per year for the Farm
   Operating Direct Loans. 

USDA Action: For FY 2000, $150 million was requested for Direct Farm Ownership loans and $900 million for Direct Operating loans.

The FY 2001 Budget includes a request for $128 million for Direct Farm Ownership loans and $700 million for Direct Operating loans.

Status: Fully implemented. For FY 2000, $178 million is available for the Direct Farm Ownership loans and $935 million for the Direct Farm Operating loans.

USDA Action: USDA did not request additional Smith-Lever 3c funding for the Small and Part-Time Farmer program, opting instead to request $4 million CSREES for the Small Farm Initiative in the FY 2001 President's Budgets.

Status: Not implemented (code 4). For FY 2001, no funding was provided by Congress for the CSREES Small Farm Initiative.

USDA Action: The authorized funding level is $50 million, but the actual funding level has never exceeded $2 million. An increase of $3 million was requested in the FY 2000 Budget.

An increase of $2 million is requested for FY 2001, which would provide $6 million in available funding for the program.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001, Congress appropriated $4.5 million for RCDG programs, which represents an increase of nearly 100% over the amount provided in FY 1999.

USDA Action: An increase of $300,000 was requested for FSMIP in the FY 2001 Budget. 

Status: Not implemented (code 4). For FY 2001, Congress appropriated $1.4 million for FSMIP, an increase of $200,000. Proposals concerning market development for small, minority farmers and for direct marketing proposals are being emphasized.

In FY 2000, Congress appropriated $1.2 million for FSMIP, the same as for FY 1999. 

1. $1.6 million and 20 staff years for increased statistical, economic, and legal expertise to pursue investigations of packer competition. 

2. $750,000 for investigation and enforcement activities in the poultry sector. 

USDA Action: In FY 2000, GIPSA requested an additional $636,000 for packer competition and enforcement, and $225,000 for electronic filing. In addition, $750,000 and 10 additional staff were requested and received for investigation into unfair market practices in the poultry industry. 

In FY 2001, an increase of $1.2 million was requested to develop sophisticated models of anticompetitive behavior. In addition, the following increases are also requested: $800,000 for poultry compliance, $1.3 million for rapid response teams, $400,000 to establish a swine contract library, and $257,000 for an information staff and civil rights activities.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). The FY 2001 appropriations provides a total of $4.4 million, an increase of $1.8 million over FY 2000. 

The appropriations included an increase of $600,000 to help identify anti-competitive behavior in livestock and $400,000 to examine the competitive structure of the poultry industry.

USDA Action: The FY 2000 Budget supported mandatory funding of $60 million for the Fund for Rural America.

The FY 2001 Budget also supports mandatory funding of $60 million for the Fund for Rural America.

Status: Not implemented (code 4). For FY 2001, $30 million is available for the Fund for Rural America. 

USDA Action: An increase of $700,000 was requested for the program in the FY 2000 Budget. 

The FY 2001 Budget requested an increase of $800,000 to finalize implementation of the National Organics Program and to expand Market News reports of organically grown fruits and vegetables.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001, Congress appropriated $1.7 million for the National Organics Program. An increase of $75,000 above the $1 million base level for this program was appropriated in FY 2000.

Congress also requested draft legislation to cover seafood. AMS continues to work toward implementation, and has published a reproposal of the National Organic Standards rule.

USDA Action. USDA requested a funding level of $20 million for this Program in the President's FY 2000 Budget. 

Status: Partially implemented (code 4). For FY 2001, Congress appropriated $20 million annually for the WIC/Farmers Market Nutrition Programs.

For FY 2000, Congress appropriated $15 million annually for the WIC/Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the same as appropriated for FY 1999. 

However, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has launched a new outreach effort to increase State participation in the program. Since FY 1998, the number of States participating in this program has increased from 34 to 38 States (including 3 Indian Tribal Organizations). 

Despite the fact that Congress did not increase in the funding level for this program, FNS believes USDA still has sufficient funds available to expand the program to additional States within the current appropriation level. 

Presently, there are 12 States which have not applied for participation in the WIC/Farmers Market Nutrition Program even though sufficient funds are available to fund these States. 

FNS will continue to conduct outreach efforts to bring in more  non-participating States. FNS also plans to work with the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Small Farms to identify barriers that might be keeping other States from participating in this program even though, as previously mentioned, Federal funds are currently available to expand the program. 

USDA Action: USDA requested a funding increase of $8.6 million in the President's FY 2000 Budget for a total funding level of $40 million.

For FY 2001, $45 million was requested for this programs, an increase of $11 million over FY 2000.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001, a total of $43.5 million is available, an increase of $10.2 million over the $33.3 million that was available in FY 2000.

FY 1999 loans included: $20 million in loans and $13.5 million in grants. The combined programs supported 622 units, exceeding the FY 1999 target by 127 units. In addition, $3.2 million was available for rental assistance to support 288 units in ten projects. 

USDA Action: No funding was requested for this program in the FY 2000 or FY 2001 Budgets.

Status: Partially implemented (code 2). For FY 2001,  $6.3 million was appropriated for this program.

USDA Action: USDA requested $28.8 million for this program in the FY 2000 Budget, and $29.4 million in the FY 2001 Budget.

Status: Fully implemented (Code 1). Congress appropriated $32.9 million for FY 2001.

In FY 2000, $29.4 million was available for this program..

USDA Action. USDA requested $10 million in the President's FY 2000 Budget to fund this program. 

Status: Unable to be implemented (code 3).  Congress did not appropriate funds for this program in FY 2001, FY 2000, or FY 1999. However, NRE will continue to seek funding for this program. 

USDA Action: The FY 2000 and FY 2001 President's Budgets requested $3.2 million for this program, the same level of funding as available in FY 1999.

Status: Not Implemented (code 4). For FY 2000, Congress appropriated $3.2 million for this activity as requested.