Delaware farmers would take a hit if President Donald Trump’s recently released budget proposal is enacted.
The White House 2018 budget blueprint proposes a 21 percent cut in discretionary funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This reduces the USDA’s budget to $17.9 billion - a loss of $4.7 billion.
That loss could put funding for rural clean water and rural business initiatives at risk. It could also put some USDA local support staff on the chopping block.
In an email to Delaware Public Media, State Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse said these cuts would impede agricultural progress here in the First State.
“The proposed cuts would have a negative impact on the great progress agriculture has made in improving the environment, especially in the Chesapeake Bay region,” Scuse said.
In addition to USDA cuts, the budget zeroes out funding for the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay restoration program.
