2015 Federal Budget Priorities

1. 2015 Federal Budget Priorities Western Extension Directors Results April 23, 2013

2. 1. Should the number one budget priority for Extension be capacity funding? • 11 responses • 100 responded “yes”

3. 2. Top 5 priority Federal budget lines. • 11 of 20 different lines were identified by at least one person as their top 5 priorities. • Priorities were weighted as follows: • 1 = 5 points • 2 = 4 points • 3 = 3 points • 4 = 2 points • 5 = 1 point

4. 2. Priority Federal Budget lines • EFNEP – 23 • Pest Management – 22 • Sustainable Ag – 22 • RREA – 19 • CYFAR – 18 • Water Quality – 18 • FRTEP - 17

5. 2. Priorities Continued • eXtension – 9 • Regional Rural Development Centers – 7 • Grants to Youth Organizations - 3 • Regional Pest Management Centers – 3

6. 3. Maintaining SNAP-ED funding based on FY12 levels and avoid future reductions • Higher priority than above – 2 • Priority equal to above – 5 • Priority, but lower than above - 4

7. 4. Implement the recommendation from the Pest Management Working Group • Higher priority than above – 0 • Priority equal to above – 5 • Priority, but lower than above - 6

8. 5. Implement the recommendations from the 406 Task Force • Higher priority than above – 4 • Priority equal to above – 2 • Priority, but lower than above - 5

9. 6. Maintain or enhance DOD funding for military family and military youth programs • Higher priority than above – 1 • Priority equal to above – 3 • Priority, but lower than above - 7

10. 7. Other budget issues that should be discussed by ECOP BLC • Integration with Experiment Stations particularly in specialty crops – higher priority • Energy issues including water – equal priority • Urban Agriculture – equal priority • Partnership funding outside USDA – equal priority • Increase funding for 1890 institutions – equal priority • Food Safety – equal priority

11. 7. Other budget issues that should be discussed by ECOP BLC continued • Food security and access to healthy affordable foods – lower priority • eXtension needs to connect the public with LGUs – lower priority • International Extension – lower priority • Climate change and its affect on agriculture – lower priority • National needs survey including Congress

12. 9. Emerging issues that should be considered a budget or program priority • Local food systems – farm to fork, school and community gardens • Global health extension program • Energy resource development and the effects on the ag interface in rural frontier states • Health care • Energy conservation/alternative energy • Climate change and issues associated with water • Reducing health care costs through obesity prevention and reduction • Food security

13. 10. Additional comments • We in the Western Pacific have issues that are not necessarily reflective as those at the national level. I wish that NIFA would provide the territories opportunities to seek grants akin to our issues.