Free, immediate and permanently available research results for all - that's what the open-access campaigners want. Unsurprisingly, the subscription publishers disagree. Zoe Corbyn weighs up the ramifications for journals, while Matthew Reisz asks how books will fare

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have completed legislative action on the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. On Oct. 7, the House approved the Conference Report on a vote of 263-162, and the Senate followed on Oct. 8, passing the measure on a vote of 76-22.

The $121.13 billion bill, which provides funding for the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Farm Credit Administration, includes $23.3 billion in discretionary authority, a $2.7 billion increase over the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and $325 million above the president's request. While making specific and sensible budget cuts where feasible, the bill once again focuses on several key areas, such as overall public health issues; maintaining adequate food nutrition programs; investing in rural development; an increase in funding for agriculture research; strengthening animal health and marketing programs; and conserving natural resources.

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