Policy Expert: Farm Safety Net in Danger

At the National Farmers Union Convention, farm policy leaders discussed the future of the farm bill and the potential impact of budget cuts. Emily Pliscott, an economist and policy staffer for Representative Angie Craig, warned that deeper cuts to nutrition programs could harm Rural America. “If we’re going to cut money from SNAP and also invest in other safety net programs, we would have to dig deeper into SNAP and cut $300 billion instead of $230 billion to make up for the difference,” Pliscott said. “That type of cut is something that will hurt rural communities. It hurts farmers and truckers, people all across the supply chain.” Pliscott also raised concerns about potential USDA staffing shortages, which could hinder the implementation of farm programs. “If we pass a program and there’s no one there to implement it, it really doesn’t matter how much money we’re able to pull together.”