American Soybean Association members are urging House and Senate Appropriators to adequately fund Farm Service Agency programs. ASA and other farm groups wrote to appropriators this week asking them to provide a robust risk management framework for farmers with the lagging farm economy. ASA President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore says the President’s budget, which calls for cuts in needed programs, would hurt farmers.

Moore says proper funding for FSA is important to keep FSA guaranteed and other farm loan programs in place that many farmers use and need.

He also says proposed cuts to the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Program will hurt U.S. efforts to expand and retain export markets.

In their letter, the farm group members noted with the farm economy only expected to worsen, access to credit specifically credit provided through the Farm Service Agency’s farm loan programs, is critical.