Farmers Watching Federal Budget Showdown
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budgetAFBF Staff
photo credit: AFBF
Congress is quickly approaching a deadline to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open. Chad Smith tells us a budget showdown could have major impacts on farmers and ranchers.
Smith: Friday is the deadline to get a government funding bill passed through Congress and to President Trump’s desk to avoid a government shutdown. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the duration of a possible spending package is a big difference between Republicans and Democrats.
Buckman: Over the weekend, the House released the text of a full-year continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded beyond March 14. This means that the government would continue to be funded, for the most part, on autopilot through September 30, which is the end of the fiscal year. Generally speaking, Democrats would like to see a short-term CR that would allow for appropriators to continue negotiations on top line fiscal year 2025 spending numbers.
Smith: Congress and the President have a responsibility to find a fiscally responsible solution.
Buckman: If a funding bill is not passed by the end of the week, then the government will go into a shutdown. From our perspective, farmers want to feed people. They want to keep farming. They're counting on Congress to live up to its obligations, ensure that government programs, permits, and loans that farmers rely on are available. A shutdown is not good for anyone, and Congress should work together to pass legislation that ensures that there is some certainty moving forward.
Smith: What happens to farmers and ranchers if they don’t pass a spending bill by the deadline?
Buckman: Farmers will not be able to take out loans, including mortgage loans, crop loans, which help them pay for expenses to grow next year’s crops. A shut down would impact disaster payments. It would halt new signups for several conservation programs. Again, a government shutdown is not beneficial to anyone, and we hope that Congress can come together and get a bill passed before the 14th hits.
Smith: Keep up to date with the latest developments at fb.org.
