Later today, Congress will begin marking up bills for the budget reconciliation, and there is a lot at stake for the ag sector as both chambers have been tasked with cutting billions of dollars.
The Senate Budget Committee is looking at cutting around $5 billion over the next decade, with a billion of that coming from agriculture. House leaders say they will reject that plan, insisting their own bill addresses each of President Trump’s agenda items.
A recent budget release from the White House shows the House Ag Committee must cut $230 billion over the next ten years. It also calls for $100 billion in new military spending, with $90 billion for border security.
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March 15 of each year is the application deadline for the Pima Cotton Trust, and March 1 of each year is the application deadline for the Wool Trust. The law mandates trust payments by April 15. More information about these programs is available at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.