FY 2026 community support letter for Agricultural Research Service (ARS) funding

Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Shaheen:

The undersigned organizations from academia, agriculture, and food stakeholder groups write to thank you for your continued support of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fiscal Year 2025. As your committees consider Appropriations for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for FY2026, we respectfully request $1.877 billion for ARS salaries and expenses, which represents a five percent increase over the FY2025 level. Sustained federal investment in food and agricultural research at ARS provides the foundation for a resilient domestic agricultural supply chain and ensures American farmers remain competitive in global markets.

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