U.S. President Joe Biden has significantly increased spending for the agricultural sector in his 2022 budget proposal, with nearly $4 billion in additional expenditures (+16.7%). With his $6 trillion budget proposal, Biden aims to “reinvent” the American economy.
The budget proposal would substantially increase USDA funding and promote agricultural infrastructure, says the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) in an initial response. The agriculture section focuses especially on preserving the agricultural structure and developing carbon farming.
Research and extension programs would receive significant new investments of $700 million (+$265 million) and $60 million (+$20 million). The agriculture budget would also provide considerable support for climate science research.
There is also modest new funding to help farmers adapt to and mitigate climate change. This includes $300 million in new funding and the establishment of a Civil Climate Corps.
In Congress, Biden presented his two major investment plans: $1.8 trillion for a stronger social safety net, and one for repair and restoration of infrastructure, roads, and bridges. The defense budget also rises slightly to $756 billion.
To balance the budget, Biden wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, much to the dismay of Republicans. The budget still needs approval from the U.S. Congress. Biden and the Democrats hold a narrow majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.