Congress approved and sent to the President a budget measure containing $3 Billion of cuts in crop insurance over ten years. The approval came with the understanding the cuts would be removed when the Omnibus spending bill comes up for consideration. Cornell University Economics Professor Joshua Woodard says if the cuts were to hold it would increase premiums and lead to lower farmer and insurance provider participation in the program. Minnesota Corn Grower’s President Noah Hultgren agrees.

Hultgren says it would also result in the government having to pass an ad hoc bill for crop disasters, which is more expensive.

South Dakota Soybean Association President John Horter says crop insurance has worked well for risk management in the past and he can personally attest to that.

Meanwhile, Iowa Congressman David Young has introduced the Crop Insurance Restoration Act, HR 3845. It would amend the federal crop insurance act and restore the $3 billion cut from the program in the just passed budget resolution.