House SST Holds Hearing on NOAA's Proposed Budget

The Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing Tuesday on the President’s budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The budget would fund NOAA at a 4% increase over enacted FY2024 levels, but would reduce budgets in several critical areas. See below for a breakdown of how Great Lakes programs would be funded under the President’s budget, as compared to previous enacted levels. 

In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Max Miller (R-OH) touted the positive working relationship that the Committee has had with NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, and expressed confidence that they could work through their policy disagreements. He then focused on the proposed cuts to NOAA’s budget. “I am discouraged by the proposal to significantly decrease the budget of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research [OAR],” he said. “This office is developing our next-generation radar and supporting technology transfers to commercialize federal research and funding the 16 cooperative institutes, which consist of 80 universities. Cutting funding in this office means cutting our investment in the future and accurate weather forecasting.” 

Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-NC) echoed that sentiment in her opening statement. She said she was “concerned” about reductions in the OAR and National Ocean Service budgets that would, “negatively impact NOAA’s capacity to execute coastal observations, ecosystem protection, ocean exploration, innovative research, educational outreach, and many more important functions that advance the agency’s mission.” 

More specifically, Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) focused on NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), a program that includes 11 regional observing systems, including Northwest Association of Network Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) in her home state, and also the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) in the Great Lakes Region. IOOS would see its funding cut from $42.5 million at the FY24 enacted level to just $10 million. Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will cover some, but not all, of that gap, and Bonamici noted that regional observing systems had planned to use those funds on activities other than base operations. “Replacing base IOOS funding with IRA resources will threaten the long-term program and, I’m concerned, strain IOOS activities,” she said, also conveying concern about a budgetary cliff that could emerge when IRA funds expire. 

In response, Administrator Spinrad acknowledged the inadequacy of the funding, saying, “IOOS along with several other programs we’ve got reflect the very difficult decisions that we had to make in this batch as a consequence in part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in the constraints that we had there, but also our commitment to sustain current activities.” He also outlined meetings he had with IOOS regional directors about the impact of the potential cuts. 

NEMWI will continue to monitor the budget process.

Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Holds Hearing on Helping the Next Generation of Farmers

The Senate Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade held a hearing on Tuesday, June 4th to examine the pathways to farming, and focusing on helping the next generation of farmers in the United States.

The hearing opened with Chair Tina Smith (D-MN) establishing the importance of the hearing, including the aging of producers. She noted that "According to the most recent census of Agriculture, the average age of a producer in the United States is around fifty-eight." Senator Smith stressed the importance of both young farmers entering the field and the importance agriculture has on the economy. Senator Smith also highlighted a number of issues faced by young, beginning farmers, including finding productive, affordable land. Another issue is that 50% of crop land across the country is rented, which forces beginning farmers to rent cheaper, less productive land. Senator Smith also emphasized the current work of the committee, including drafting the Increasing Land, Access, Security. and Opportunities Act, also known as LASO.

In her opening statement, Ranking Member Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) highlighted the importance of the agricultural sector and farmers, stating that "I’m just pleased to be a part of things like this, to ensure the 2% of us that feed the other 98%, that we continue to grow." Senator Hyde-Smith stated that she supports the passage of a strong farm bill to ensure that opportunities for young farmers continue to exist. She commended the House Agriculture Committee for reporting a robust farm bill that, she said, modernizes the farm safety net, and includes multiple provisions beneficial to young and beginning farmers.

The first witness, Christian Good, owner and operator of Christian Good Farms, highlighted the economic challenges that farmers, both beginning and experienced, face. Mr. Good stated that operating costs are at an all time high and that inflated costs on operations create profit headwinds for producers. Mr. Good also highlighted the impact of rising interest rates on farm operating loans, stating that, "Just 4 years ago, interest rates on farmland real estate loans and farm production loans were between 3 to 4 percent. Now, the same interest rates stand between 8 and 9 percent, more than doubling the cost of borrowing for agricultural producers." Mr. Good also proposed recommendations to be put in place, including expanding upon farm service agency loan programs and risk management programs.

Tessa Parks, co-owner of WT farms and President of the Rice County chapter of Minnesota Farmers Union, advocated for the expansion of USDA’s increasing land capital and market access program to help beginning and struggling farmers. Ms. Parks also advocated for the farm bill, including for bipartisan support for including the Inflation Reduction Act funding for USDA’s voluntary conservation programs and Senator Smith’s LASO Act.

The third witness, Kevin Lussier, Chair of the American Farm Bureau Federation and Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee, began his testimony by promoting a bipartisan farm bill to be passed this year. Mr. Lussier then spoke on the importance of a five-year modernized safety net, to support more young people to go into the agricultural and production business that is vital to the country. Mr. Lussier stressed how critical access to credit is for young farmers, due to rising supply costs and agricultural land. Mr. Lussier concluded by highlighting the concern over the availability of childcare centers in rural areas, since in order to keep young farmers on the farm, it is important to have affordable childcare in rural areas.

The last witness, Raechel Sattazahn, Director of Industry and Membership Relations for Horizon Farm Credit, discussed the importance of the loan terms for farms and young farmers. Ms. Sattazahn highlighted the importance of the Grow Ahead Program, a program which offers financing options for young and beginning farmers by providing access to the capital they need. She also highlighted the importance of this program by providing examples of success stories from the program, and urged the Senate and House to pass a bipartisan farm bill.

Reported by NEMWI Intern Riley Crume, Lynn University

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