USDA Releases Farm Bill Priorities

A new U.S. farm bill reflecting budget goals of the Trump administration should provide crop insurance products that allow farmers to withstand economic slumps while it cuts spending in nutrition assistance programs, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Wednesday.

The four-page document outlining principles guiding the bill includes:

• Maintain an innovative crop insurance program that allows farmers to manage risk

• Retire “more environmentally sensitive acres” through voluntary land stewardship programs

• Reduce regulatory burdens while ensuring new farm and food technologies are safe

• Lead the world in agriculture research

• Provide reliable and affordable high-speed internet services to rural America.

“These principles will be used as a road map—they are our way of letting Congress know what we’ve heard from the hard-working men and women of American agriculture,” Perdue said. “While we understand it’s the legislature’s job to write the farm bill, USDA will be right there providing whatever counsel Congress may request or require.”

USDA wants to promote more “innovative crop insurance products and changes” for farmers and help them manage risk. The document does not mention reducing crop insurance. 

Source: USDA