By Jamie Martin
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), along with 160 farmer-serving organizations from across the U.S., has sent a joint letter to the leadership of the Congressional Agriculture Committee.
The letter urges lawmakers to reject the expected budget reconciliation cuts, which, if enacted, could prevent the passage of a new, full five-year farm bill. The letter was sent ahead of the House Agriculture Committee’s anticipated markup next week.
“More than six years since President Trump signed the bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act into law in 2018, budget reconciliation is poised to dash all hope for a much needed new, full five year farm bill,” said Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director. “For farmers and communities across state and political lines, the loss of a new farm bill would be an unequivocal setback. We urge policymakers to step back from the brink and chart a path to a full, five year bipartisan farm bill.”
The proposed budget cuts, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars, could severely impact programs vital to agricultural producers and rural economies.
These cuts would also harm nutrition assistance for children, families, and food-insecure individuals. The letter reflects a broad coalition’s commitment to preserving the integrity of the farm bill, which supports a wide range of agricultural communities.
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