A coalition of over 500 groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, has sent a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to reject any funding cuts in the next farm bill. NCGA Senior Director of Public Policy Sam Willett says the ag economy has been depressed the last four years and so at least adequate funding is needed to provide an adequate safety net.

He says savings made in the last two farm bills voluntarily by agriculture need to be taken into account by lawmakers as they craft the new legislation.

Willett says while the next federal budget will be a major challenge, elected officials need to realize agriculture has been fiscally responsible and programs provided by the farm bill are cost effective.

The letter was sent out this week just ahead of the first farm bill field hearing in Manhattan Kansas set for today at Kansas State University.