American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said Thursday that Farm Bureau is “on track” to oppose the Democrats’ budget reconciliation bill that would provide as much as $130 billion in agriculture and food spending but is also likely to raise taxes.At a luncheon for reporters, Duvall said that Farm Bureau will have to examine the final bill, but that the current version would spend a total of $3.5 trillion over 10 years and raise taxes by $2 trillion.
Although the agriculture section of the bill includes “attractive” programs, Duvall said Farm Bureau fears that the increased spending and taxes would create more burdens for farmers.
The spending on agricultural research, rural development, biofuels and other rural programs would amount to $66 billion, a small portion of the $3.5 trillion, Duvall noted. He did not mention the $28 billion for conservation or the $35 billion for child nutrition programs that is likely to increase government spending on food.
As DTN reported Thursday, farmers would get a $25 an acre payment from USDA to grow cover crop as part of the $28 billion set aside for climate-smart conservation practices.