A spending bill approved last week by the U.S. Senate does not include a pay raise for federal employees. The Senate Appropriations subcommittee completed the fiscal 2013 Financial Services and General Government spending bill — which is typically used to provide a federal pay increase — by remaining silent on the 0.5 percent pay raise recommended by President Obama. Although there are other bills that could include the proposed increase, if Congress does not appropriate funding, it is unclear where the president would find the money for the pay increase. Read more (Government Executive).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it will create two new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas in New York and North Carolina and expand an already established BCAP project area in Arkansas. “Increasing the production of renewable, home-grown fuels is vital to reducing our country's reliance on foreign oil, while creating good-paying jobs and diversifying the agriculture economy,” said Vilsack. Administered by the Farm Service Agency, BCAP helps farmers and forest land owners with start-up costs of planting new energy crops that will reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Read more. 

Demand for American food and agricultural products abroad has led to the three best consecutive years for U.S. farm exports in the nation’s history, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “In 2010, President Obama comitted to doubling U.S. exports in five years and just two years later, we are on pace to meet that goal,” said Vilsack. Speaking to business leaders in Iowa, one of the nation’s most productive agricultural economies, Vilsack pointed to the state’s low unemployment rate of 5.1 percent as proof of agriculture’s success story. Last year, Iowa exported a record $7 billion in agricultural products, which supported nearly 60,000 jobs on and off the farm. Learn more.

There will not be an increase in the raw sugar tariff-rate quota (TRQ) or the domestic sugarcane or sugar beet processor marketing allotments, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A June review of the U.S. sugar market indicates a substantial increase in fiscal year (FY) 2012 supply due to higher Mexican imports and larger beet sugar production than expected. Additional adjustments to import TRQs and domestic marketing allotments are possible later in FY 2012 if needed to ensure an adequate sugar supply for the domestic market. Learn more. 

Comments are being sought on a proposal to improve the Farm Service Agency operating loan program to better meet the needs of small farmers. The new microloan program would simplify and streamline the application process and cut the paperwork in half for producers who need a loan for less than $35,000. FSA expects the new microloan program to help meet the credit needs of small farm operations. Comments received by July 24 will be considered. Read more about microloans or submit a comment.