Kansas Corn Statement on the President’s Proposed Budget

Kansas Corn Growers Association President Ken McCauley, White Cloud, expressed dismay at the president’s detailed proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018 which was released today.

“The proposed budget’s impact on agriculture is comprehensive in the negative impact it would have on agriculture and rural economies. Basically, it’s a direct hit on the ability of farmers to manage risk, develop markets and farm more sustainably. The proposed budget would be bad for business for rural America.”

The proposed budget would:

• Cut the federal crop insurance program by $28.56 billion over the 2018-2027 period
• Eliminate funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) ($200 million/year) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program ($34.5 million/year)
• Reduce conservation program funding by $5.8 billion over the 2018-2027 period

“We are very concerned about the president’s budget proposal and what it takes away not only from agriculture, but from our rural economies. This budget takes aim at three of our top Farm Bill priorities: crop insurance, export market development and conservation,” McCauley said. “Funding for these programs should be discussed in the Farm Bill reauthorization. Changing these programs in annual funding discussions takes away any certainty farmers have in the Farm Bill.”

KCGA, along with National Corn Growers Association, will work with Congress and the administration as the budget process continues.