Federal Summary
With the continued shrinking of state dollars, the importance of federal capacity (formula) funding has become increasingly important to allow for the continuation of many parish-based programs and initiatives. Declining budgets have forced the LSU AgCenter to reduce 238 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, which is a 19.33 percent reduction since July 1, 2008.
After months of temporary continuing resolutions to carry federally funded departments, agencies and programs through the year, Washington has passed and signed legislation funding them through the remainder of this fiscal year. The approved bill has nearly $30 billion in cuts, including a $3.5 million reduction to Smith-Lever 3(b) and (c), which provides funding for extension programs and services. Although the reduction to Smith-Lever 3(b) and (c) was not the $30 million proposed earlier by Congress, this reduction will negatively affect the funding that Louisiana receives for extension services. While funding for many national programs was reduced, Hatch Act funding for agricultural research was increased by $21.3 million and McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry funding was increased by nearly $4 million. However, these apparent increases are deceptive because they mask additional significant reductions. Both of these increases were provided to help offset the loss of more than $135 million in annual earmark funds that had previously been provided to many land-grant institutions (like the LSU AgCenter) for many years, primarily supporting agricultural research initiatives. The LSU AgCenter was receiving earmark funding for programs including Aquaculture; Biorefinery; Blackbird Depredation; Diet, Nutrition and Obesity Research; Healthy Living and Lifestyles; Seafood Safety Testing; Master Farmer, Master Gardener and Master Cattleman; Tillage/Silviculture and Waste Management; Wetland Plants; Wood Utilization; and Formosan Termite Research. These programs and research initiatives positively impact residents across Louisiana and the Southern region. With the loss of designated funding for continuation of these initiatives, the programs and research conducted under their titles will be seriously curtailed or refocused to work within the means of other available funding sources. We will continue to seek new funding sources to continue some aspects of the research and extension initiatives that have been previously supported by these earmark funds.
While we consider this year’s outcome a success, we know that the upcoming federal budget will hold serious challenges and potential reductions to funding. We will update you on the status of both the state and federal budget as the process continues, and your input and support actions will be much appreciated.
PROGRAM IMPACTS
In addition to the direct financial and employment impacts described above, key stakeholders would be impaired as certain meritorious programs would be scaled back or eliminated:
- Work with farmers and forest landowners to provide the latest research based information to keep Louisiana’s agriculture competitive and safe will be severely reduced. This will impact the amount of production and economic development from commodities such as lumber, sugarcane, rice, cotton, soybeans, corn and cattle.
- Master programs such as Master Farmer, Gardener and Cattlemen will be reduced, negatively impacting resource conservation, environmental stewardship and best management practices.
- Research and outreach programs to improve and propagate coastal plants, restore marshes and protect our coastal communities will be greatly reduced or eliminated.
- Seafood safety testing to build consumer confidence in eating Louisiana’s seafood will be curtailed, which will reduce the demand for our products and undermine the Louisiana fishing and processing industries.
- 4-H youth programs will be severely affected, and fewer youth will be reached to receive programs that develop character, leadership and science skills that grow better citizens.
- Integrated pest management (IPM) programs will be dramatically reduced. These were the first to identify Asian Soybean Rust in the U.S., evaluate transgenic cotton and soybean for insect control, and implement an area-wide Formosan termite management program in a major urban area.
- Education for families and consumers on healthy lifestyles to improve quality of life and reduce childhood obesity and health care costs will be severely curtailed or eliminated.
These examples clearly show how important it is to keep the funds in Smith-Lever 3(b) and 3(c) at the current level to avoid long-term negative impact on extension programs. Additional reductions are anticipated in state funding, deepening the effect of federal capacity funding cuts. We urge your continued support to ensure that adequate funding is available to maintain these programs in all Louisiana parishes and congressional districts.
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| Last Updated: 3/16/2012 9:02:39 AM |
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