FMC Statement on 2018 Federal Budget Proposal

      Posted On: May 26, 2017

Budget Director Mick Mulvaney holds copy of President Trump’s proposed fiscal 2018 federal budget. Photo credit: Andrew Harnik, AP.

This week President Trump submitted his 2018 federal budget request to Congress. The budget proposes a 21% cut to the United States Department of Agriculture and the complete elimination of the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) (p. 85), the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) (p. 128), the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (p. 85), and multiple program designed to spur economic opportunity in rural communities. Other programs slated for cuts include the National Organics Program, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). (1) (2)

Meeting on Wednesday, both Republican and Democratic members of the House Committee on Appropriations expressed misgivings that these cuts occur at a time of low agricultural prices and slumping farm incomes. The Farmers Market Coalition shares these concerns and joins a growing coalition in opposition to eliminating programs that support both farmers markets and the nutritional wellbeing of food insecure Americans. While we are heartened that the President’s budget calls for the continued support of SNAP benefit redemption at farmers markets, FMC believes that the proposed budget does a disservice to America’s farmers markets, farmers, and consumers. FMC will continue to monitor the ongoing budget and farm bill debates closely and will keep in touch with opportunities for action.