ABA and more than 250 other farm-related groups today wrote to the leaders of the congressional appropriations and budget committees, urging them not to make further cuts to federal agriculture programs. The groups noted that the 2014 Farm Bill trimmed $16 billion over 10 years.
“These difficult cuts resulted from hard choices made to reform and reduce the farm safety net, conservation programs and nutrition assistance programs,” they said. “Some of the reforms made in the new farm bill are still being implemented.” As a result, the groups urged Congress to refrain from making any further cuts or reopening the Farm Bill during the 2017 budget process.