Agriculture and forestry priorities were maintained in the General Fund (GF) budget passed Wednesday by the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. The $2 billion spending bill previously passed the Senate. 

The GF budget fully funds the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) program at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, preventing farmers from having to pay for enforcement. The GF budget also includes $81,403 in matching funds for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries was funded at $12 million, including $3 million for the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program. The Alabama Forestry Commission was level funded at $7.6 million. The Soil and Water Conservation Committee allocation was $2.4 million.