Last week, the Congressional Budget Office released projections on 10-year estimated spending for agriculture related programs that could have implications on the 2018 Farm Bill.  The CBO’s report predicts mandatory farm and nutrition programs, including those related to conservation and forestry, would cost $822 billion over a decade.  This figure is about $130 billion less than the $956 billion estimate lawmakers had to work with during 2014 Farm Bill negotiations.  Conservation and forestry programs are projected to cost $23.4 billion over five years, representing a modest savings of $4.8 billion when compared to 2014 figures. 

The CBO’s projections report was released amid budget negotiations between House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-TN).  Chairwoman Black is seeking $150 billion in budget cuts from social welfare and has targeted programs in the 2018 Farm Bill.  Chairman Conway struck a deal with Black and expressed his confidence that this agreement provides the Agriculture Committee the “flexibility it needs to craft a farm bill that works for all of our various stakeholders.”  Despite this assurance from Chairman Conway, the Farm Bill will continue to be a target of budget negotiations as a number of Republican members of Congress wish to see tax cuts.