The financial challenges in agriculture were part of Terrain Executive Head John Newton’s keynote address at the International Crop Expo. “We’ve seen tight margins for three years in a row and that’s why Congress stepped in and provided the $10 billion in economic support and help farmers until a new farm bill can get authorized by Congress.” Newton said the legislation that will likely pass this year will be the first trillion-dollar farm bill in history. A significant portion of that budget, around 80 percent, is allocated to Supplemental Nutritional Assisstance Program. SNAP is a prime target for GOP budget cuts. “When you look deeper into the numbers and see the high overpayment rates, there are efficiencies that can be made.” The Department of Government Efficiency is looking for budget savings throughout government, including a review of commodity checkoff programs. “People need to understand the reseach and promotion work that the checkoff does is very valuable; they work with our landgrants on agricultural research so it is an important program for agriculture.” Newton previously served as chief economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee and in similar roles for the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Milk Producers Federation.
