Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Agriculture for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

This is the FY 2023 original appropriation bill for the Department of Agriculture. It appropriates a total of $50,131,000 and caps the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions at 225.00. For benefit costs, the bill increases the appropriated amount for health insurance by $850 to $12,500 per eligible full time FTP, includes a one-year holiday of unemployment insurance, and adjusts workers' compensation amounts. The bill also provides funding for permanent employees for the equivalent of a 3% salary structure shift and provides $1.25 per hour per eligible employee to be distributed based on merit for change in employee compensation. Thebillfundsfivelineitems, whichprovideadditionalfundsfortheInvasiveSpeciesProgram, aninspectorfor the Feed and Fertilizer Program, expansion of the Hemp Program, additional federal funds under the Specialty Crop Grant Program, and an equivalent CEC for fresh fruit and vegetable inspectors. Also included in this bill are two onetime FY 2022 supplementals, which provide expanded funding for Specialty Crop Grants and additional lab equipment.