Farm Program Cuts Not Recommended

The House (233 to 196) and the Senate (55 to 43) enacted their respective versions of the 2010 Fiscal Year Budgets last week before leaving Washington for a two-week Easter recess.

In its weekly Washington Report, the American Cotton Shippers said neither measure attempted to reduce the funding of the 2008 Farm Bill, though the Senate Budget Committee report contains non-binding language suggesting that the Market Access Program (MAP) is a potential source for budget savings.

A House-Senate Conference will resolve the differences in the two measures when Congress returns. Thereafter, the House and Senate will begin the appropriations process.