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House GOP budget plan could include cuts to ag

House Republicans could include cuts to the farm bill to offset increased defense spending and tax cuts as they look to roll out their 2018 budget blueprint this week.

According to Agri-Pulse, House negotiations went into the weekend on the budget resolution and is expected to include at least $150 billion in cuts to mandatory spending programs.  Included in that category: farm programs and food stamps along with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

House Ag Chairman Mike Conway did not rule out accepting a cut of some size, but continued to push back against any reduction to farm programs.  He has expressed concerns that an abrupt cutoff in SNAP benefits would discourage beneficiaries from taking jobs that put them over the current eligibility limits.

It is unclear if the Senate would go along with the House GOP’s potential cuts.