President Barack Obama has released a budget proposal that includes $18 billion in cuts to crop insurance over the next 10 years.
The funds cut from this program will go to a summer meal program for families with children who are under a certain yearly income, as well as research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The main proposal has two options for the reformation of crop insurance plans. The function of the plans serves the same purpose–to modify the structure of the crop insurance program.
Aside from funding the summer meal program, funds cut from the crop insurance program would go to research in three USDA areas under the president’s proposal.
Of these funds, $700 million would go to the agency’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. This money would help USDA respond to issues such as ensuring abundant water for agriculture uses and improving food quality and safety.
In addition, $1.2 billion would be used for research at the Agricultural Research Service. This funding would allow for creation of new programs for pollinator health, agricultural microbiomes and research on diseases found in foreign animals.
Building and renovation of infrastructure investments that the USDA has planned would receive $94.5 million from these funds. That money would go toward researchers studying foreign plant pathogens that could possibly harm American-grown crops.
The president’s proposed budget is not the nation’s final budget. Instead, it’s a proposal that’s considered by lawmakers who will also make proposals regarding the nation’s finances.