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Proposed conservation, crop insurance budget cuts would hurt farmers

President Trump’s budget has some good and bad parts, according to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Barb Glenn.

 She says proposed investments in animal and plant health, market access, and food safety traceability would benefit agriculture and NASDA members.

“Animal and plant health, market access, and food safety traceability all relate to NASDA’s policy priorities and they’re crucial for agriculture,” she says. “We support those proposed investments.”

Glenn says proposed cuts to conservation funding would negatively impact the industry.

“We’re supportive of voluntary incentive-based programs and we want to see conservation programs grow because of their contribution to environmental quality and climate resilience for farmers,” she says.

Cuts to crop insurance program would also hurt farmers, she says.

“Any cuts to crop insurance lets the safety net drop and farmers are going to bear the brunt of that,” she says.

NASDA will now work with Congress to fully fund federal programs under USDA, EPA, FDA, and other agencies that support farmers and members. 

Audio: Barb Glenn, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture