House committee passes ag appropriations

The House Appropriations Committee approved fiscal 2021 agriculture and rural development legislation. The bill allows for a combined $153 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding, an increase of $331 million over fiscal 2020.

The bill authorizes $2.75 billion in guaranteed farm ownership loans, $2.1 billion in guaranteed farm operating loans, $2.1 billion in direct farm ownership loans, and $1.6 billion for direct operating loans.