§5855 Funding

Summary

Sets how each year’s program money must be split. Between 15% and 25% must fund joint work with the National Weather Service. Between 15% and 25% must fund a competitive grants program run by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Between 25% and 35% must be split equally among the participating States chosen that year to support weather information systems. Any leftover money is for the Agricultural Weather Office and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to use for the program. The funds cannot pay to build facilities, and no State or agency may spend more than 30% of its share on equipment. When funds are used to share weather or climate information with producers, the role of private weather services should be taken into account. The law allows $5,000,000 for each year 2008 through 2012, and $1,000,000 for each year 2014 through 2023.