Farm and Food Support Under USDA's Section 32 Program

ISBN: 1288665768

Author: Becker Ed., Geoffrey S

Condition: New

Section 32 is a permanent appropriation that since 1935 has earmarked the equivalent of 30% of annual customs receipts to support the farm sector through a variety of activities. Today, most of this annual appropriation is transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) account that funds child nutrition programs (i.e., $5.7 billion transferred of approximately $7 billion total). However, the Secretary of Agriculture has long had broad discretion in how to spend the nontransferred (unobligated and carry-over) money, which now amounts to approximately $1.5 billion annually. The Secretary historically has chosen to use much of this non-transferred money to purchase non-price-supported commodities like meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and fish, which are diverted to school lunch and other domestic food programs; and to fund farm economic and disaster relief activities, among other things.