Agriculture and forestry fared well in the General Fund (GF) budget approved Tuesday by the Alabama Senate. 

The $2 billion package fully funds the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) program at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, preventing farmers from having to bear the cost of regulatory enforcement. The GF budget also includes $81,403 in matching funds for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

“This budget addresses some critical needs and protects programs important to farmers,” said Alabama Farmers Federation Senate Legislative Programs Director Matthew Durdin. “I’d like to thank Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, for making sure CAFO and RCPP programs are fully funded and additional cost-share dollars are available for conservation practices.”

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.