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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Both Congressional Ag Committees took up the bill over the summer, but there’s no word on when the Senate could move forward; it does expire on September 30.
As the Trump Administration seeks out new global trade partnerships, Congress is considering more support for farmers, which comes as the Federal Reserve warns that farmers need a safety net.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.
Tom Peterson with the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association says taxpayers are “unfortunate casualties” of this overlay now that the Mexican wolf population is stable under ESA guidelines.
The amendments affect BLM lands in several Western states. Comments on the Sage grouse proposals can be made to the BLM National NEPA Register until Oct. 3.
