The Omnibus budget package for the rest of fiscal year 2017 did not include cuts to ag programs, but future cuts are uncertain especially for the new farm bill. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says appropriators even approved some new dollars for ag programs including the FSA loan guarantee program.

However, appropriators failed to pass and assistance package for cotton and dairy producers in the five month budget bill. American Farm Bureau Senior Director of Congressional Relations Mary Kay Thatcher says that may make it even harder to keep baseline funding in the new farm bill.

Johnson says unfortunately with the continued depressed farm economy, farmers need more money in the next farm bill, not less.