Budget Proposal Cuts Billions from Farm Bill

President Trump’s $4.4 trillion budget proposal released last week cuts USDA funding by 16 percent and cuts farm bill investments by $260 billion.

“The proposed cuts to both the USDA and the farm bill would hurt American agriculture, neglect rural businesses, and leave families and seniors behind,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. “If taken seriously, this budget would make it impossible for Congress to pass a farm bill this year. Our farmers and small towns can count on me to oppose these cuts and instead work to pass a bipartisan farm bill that supports our rural communities and families.”

From the other side of the aisle, Senate and House Ag Committee Chairmen Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) said this: “The task at hand is to produce a farm bill for the benefit of our farmers, ranchers, consumers and other stakeholders. This budget, as with every other president’s budget before, will not prevent us from doing that job. We are committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers during these times of low prices and uncertain markets and continuing to improve our nation’s nutrition programs.”

John Heisdorffer, president of the American Soybean Association, said “proposed cuts in crop insurance and farm programs make this budget a non-starter.”

Several media outlets characterize the proposal as a statement of priorities rather than a budget.

Source: Southeast Farm Press