Agricultural leaders and farm-state lawmakers last week pledged to fight the Trump administration’s budget proposals that would make deep cuts in the farm safety net, particularly in federal support for crop insurance, and in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation programs.

Farm leaders and lawmakers agree with the administration’s effort to trim the overall federal budget and cut the deficit. But, they noted, the administration’s proposals for sharp cuts in farm safety net programs come at a time when the farm economy is suffering. In addition, they said, farm safety net programs already took a significant cut during in the current 2014 farm bill.

"These proposals call for drastic reductions that could, if enacted, devastate crop insurance and conservation programs," said Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation president. "As I visit with...