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President’s proposed cuts could impact farmers at local level

An ag economist says President Trump’s proposed budget could impact several facets of the ag industry.

Carl Zulauf, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, says the proposal to “streamline operations” by cutting USDA service center staff could affect farmers at the local level.  “To the extent that farmers use farm service centers – and most of them do in these states – because programs are a big part of these particular states at these particular times,” he says.  “This could cause some changes in access or at least ease of access to the programs.”

Zulauf tells Brownfield the cuts won’t impact mandatory programs like nutrition, commodity titles, and crop insurance.

He says this is the first look at the President’s priorities.  “When we look at agriculture it was scheduled for a significant cut,” he says.  “I would point out these cuts are in what are called discretionary programs.”

Trump has proposed a 21 percent cut to the USDA budget. Zulauf says the proposal is a starting point for negotiations – and ultimately the budget Congress passes is the one that matters.

AUDIO: Carl Zulauf, Ohio State University, professor emeritus