Bovine somatotropin (BST) may temporarily be sacrificed toPresident Clinton's efforts to cut the federal deficit.

On Wednesday, as part of the federal budget reconciliation bill,the Senate Agriculture Committee approved more than $3billion worth of budget cuts. This package included a year'smoratorium on milk with recombinant BST, a contribution ofSen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., which would save the Treasury$15 million, according to the Department of Agriculture and theCongressional Commodity Credit Corp., the government agencywhich purchases surplus commodities.

The House has already passed its own version of thereconciliation bill, which lacks the BST ban. The differencesbetween the House and Senate versions will be ironed out inconference, and the result is expected to become law late thissummer. -- David C. Holzman

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