Crop Organizations Concerned about USDA Budget Request
Corn, soybean and wheat growers react to the proposed 2008 USDA budget.
Compiled by staff
Published: Feb 7, 2007
Crop growers' organizations responded to Mike Johanns' announcement of the USDA 2008 budget request with concern, but not with surprise.
An NCGA release says the budget request was what corn growers expected. "There were really no surprises with the announced budget proposal in light of what we heard last week from the USDA's 2007 farm bill recommendations," says Ken McCauley, NCGA president, in the release.
Support for renewable energy remains an important issue for NCGA. "Corn growers believe adequate funding levels are needed, as the expansion of renewable energy continues and as we strive to better the conservation program and enhance rural development," McCauley says.
The American Soybean Association's response was more critical. "ASA is concerned that program reductions and/or restructurings could seriously undermine many nutrition, conservation, crop insurance and farm programs that are important to all Americans," says ASA President Neal Bredehoeft in a release.
The National Association of Wheat Growers was concerned as well.
"The majority of the numbers in the Bush Administration's 2008 budget are in line with USDA's recently announced 2007 Farm Bill proposals, which would not properly support producers nor restore the principle of commodity neutrality," says NAWG President Dale Schuler.
"It is not possible to realize the opportunities agriculture has right now without a strong budget that will keep growers on the land."
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Tagged: farm, usda, NCGA, farm bill, ASA
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