As U.S. farmers, ranchers, and rural communities face catastrophically weak farm economies, nearly 200 organizations, including the American Federation of Farm Bureaux and several state-owned farm bureaus, urge congressional budget authors to reject calls for further cuts to farm programs.

The appeal indicates that while the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts an increase in farmers' incomes in 2019, farmers and ranchers will still be 44% lower than in 2013.

And if we add to this the growth of farm debts and the ratio of debts to assets, the growth of bankruptcies and reciprocal tariffs that will increase the price of farm products and undermine its competitiveness in key export markets, then, according to the authors of the appeal, there are arguments in favor of protecting program financing farms are becoming more convincing.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture is starting to implement the 2018 Farming Bill, farmers are asking for phasing out cuts in vital agricultural policy programs. A further reduction in farm programs will hit US agriculture at a time when farmers, ranchers and rural America are already struggling to survive.