100 Days In: Trump's Agricultural Policy
“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals & happiness.”
-Thomas Jefferson Somewhere along the path between the third president of the United States and Donald Trump, this value seems to have shifted in priority level. Many considered 2016’s overwhelming win by the Republican party to be the outcry of rural America, but will the new administration honor their votes? Farmers were extremely pleased whenever Trump selected Sonny Perdue as the latest Secretary of Agriculture. Perdue was trained as a veterinarian, served as Georgia’s governor, began an agricultural and logistics firm, and lived much of his life in the countryside of the Peach State. In a word, Perdue is definitely qualified. |
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Two months later, however, Trump makes a move that does not sit well with much of the agricultural community: the proposed budget will cut funds to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending. These cuts will cause a 21% decrease in the USDA’s dispersants, which is the equivalent of $22.6 billion in 2017, and then another $17.9 billion in 2018.
As a result, spending will be reduced for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Assistance program (by 0.2 billion dollars), and for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service. This cooperative service provides job training to rural residents, which often allows them to start their own businesses. Most of the careers this cooperative service specializes in focus on food development systems and promoting renewable energy usage. Basically, this program allows a source of income for rural families and creates direct resources for farmers, and these new budget cuts will reduce its spending by 95 million dollars.
As a result, spending will be reduced for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Assistance program (by 0.2 billion dollars), and for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service. This cooperative service provides job training to rural residents, which often allows them to start their own businesses. Most of the careers this cooperative service specializes in focus on food development systems and promoting renewable energy usage. Basically, this program allows a source of income for rural families and creates direct resources for farmers, and these new budget cuts will reduce its spending by 95 million dollars.
Some programs will be completely eliminated, such as the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program (which plays an active role in alleviating international hunger) and the Water and Wastewater loan and grant program (which funds clean drinking water programs, sanitary sewage disposal, and storm water drainage in rural areas).
Two programs outside the realm of discretionary spending (farm subsidies and food stamps) will not face any loss in funding. |
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Furthermore, multiple USDA employees stationed at service center agencies across America will have to be fired. Some have argued that this staff reduction will be a good way of removing big business from agriculture, but the truth is that it’s more than likely not the workers in DC who are in trouble… it’s the smaller city USDA office locations, where the employees who work face-to-face with farmers to help them get subsidies, grants, or job training, could lose their jobs.
But it’s not all bad news for the agricultural world. Many of Donald Trump’s other policies will indirectly help farmers. For example, in southern states close to the border, farmers routinely get robbed or have property destroyed by immigrants who snuck over illegally. The very controversial border wall will put an end to this. Illegal immigration also hurts agriculture—and the American economy as a whole—because aliens are not registered to pay taxes, which are the government’s sole source of income that could lead to future increased spending to the USDA. Just in the time since Trump’s inauguration, illegal border crossings are down 40%.
It’s also important to note that a radical expansion of focus onto foreign policy and oversea relations will either favor or inhibit international trade, which is a required asset to our modern day farming systems.
But it’s not all bad news for the agricultural world. Many of Donald Trump’s other policies will indirectly help farmers. For example, in southern states close to the border, farmers routinely get robbed or have property destroyed by immigrants who snuck over illegally. The very controversial border wall will put an end to this. Illegal immigration also hurts agriculture—and the American economy as a whole—because aliens are not registered to pay taxes, which are the government’s sole source of income that could lead to future increased spending to the USDA. Just in the time since Trump’s inauguration, illegal border crossings are down 40%.
It’s also important to note that a radical expansion of focus onto foreign policy and oversea relations will either favor or inhibit international trade, which is a required asset to our modern day farming systems.
As for myself, 2016 was the first time I ever got to vote, and I’ll readily admit that I did so in favor of the Conservative Party. It was a combination of factors that lead me to believe that Donald Trump was the best decision (or, more accurately, the least of the available evils) for my country in its current conditions. However, decisions regarding farming policy leave a bit to be desired. Although there are many pressing issues that need legislative attention, everyone should agree that producing food and fiber must be a high priority. Thomas Jefferson’s quote should not seem the slightest bit radical.
So what’s your opinion? Has Trump lost sight of what’s important? Or do you think that executive sights need to be set on addressing national security and economic growth before ag? Do you believe this proposed budget will pass? What’s your overall evaluation of Trump’s first 100 days? Head on over to my social medias (linked in the contact tab) and let me know! |
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Sources/Further Reading:
"Active McGovern-Dole Projects." Active McGovern-Dole Projects. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
"Rural Business-Cooperative Service." Rural Business-Cooperative Service | USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural
Development, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
Salzer, James, Greg Bluestein, and Shannon McCaffrey. "Georgia's Sonny Perdue Picked as Trump's Agriculture Chief." Myajc. Cox
Media Group, 19 Jan. 2017. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
Soffen, Kim, and Denise Lu. "What's Getting Cut in Trump's Budget." The Washington Post. WP Company, 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 26
Mar. 2017.
Streiff. "Illegal Immigration Down 40% Since Trump Was Inaugurated." RedState. Town Hall Media, 09 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Mar.
2017.
"Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program." Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. USDA Rural Development,
n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
"Active McGovern-Dole Projects." Active McGovern-Dole Projects. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
"Rural Business-Cooperative Service." Rural Business-Cooperative Service | USDA Rural Development. USDA Rural
Development, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
Salzer, James, Greg Bluestein, and Shannon McCaffrey. "Georgia's Sonny Perdue Picked as Trump's Agriculture Chief." Myajc. Cox
Media Group, 19 Jan. 2017. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
Soffen, Kim, and Denise Lu. "What's Getting Cut in Trump's Budget." The Washington Post. WP Company, 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 26
Mar. 2017.
Streiff. "Illegal Immigration Down 40% Since Trump Was Inaugurated." RedState. Town Hall Media, 09 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Mar.
2017.
"Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program." Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. USDA Rural Development,
n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
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