The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union and other farm groups are asking both the Congressional Budget Office and Appropriations Committee members for more funding in the 2018 farm bill. Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap says there are so many essential programs in the farm bill that need additional support.

He says because the ag economy is depressed, having adequate farm bill funding is critical.

Paap says previous farm bills have taken their share of cuts and to ask for even more reductions doesn’t make sense with state of the farm economy.

The farm groups pointed out to the CBO and Appropriators that agriculture was the only sector willing to contribute to deficit reduction when the farm economy was healthy.