Senate panel rejects Trump's proposed cuts to agricultural research.

The article focuses on the Senate Committee on Appropriations' decision to maintain funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for the 2026 fiscal year, rejecting significant cuts proposed by the Trump administration. The Senate committee approved a budget of $1.7 billion for NIFA and $1.8 billion for ARS, aligning with a similar budget passed by the House Committee on Appropriations. Agricultural researchers expressed relief at the bipartisan support for agricultural research, although the final budget must still be approved by Congress, which faces potential disputes over other funding issues. Additionally, the Senate committee has requested explanations for delays in NIFA's grantmaking and has urged the USDA to maintain staffing at ARS laboratories slated for closure. [Extracted from the article]