USDA
Secretary Sonny Perdue, who was confirmed after the Fiscal 2018 budget plans by
the Trump administration were put forward, told reporters in Pennsylvania
Wednesday that he is more involved in this year's process. However, he would
not say whether there will be sizable cuts to crop insurance proposed in the
Fiscal 2019 plan. Some in Washington expect even bigger cuts for the program
may be proposed in the Fiscal 2019 budget plan.
If that
is the case, expectations are Congress once again will not follow the
administration's proposed cuts. However, some expect that a big crop insurance
cut proposed by the administration could be used to back amendments during the
upcoming farm bill debate. And, with Congress unlikely to agree on a Fiscal
2019 budget any time soon, that could mean the new farm bill is likely to be
written to the 2018 budget that requires no cuts to the farm bill or crop
insurance.