A media frenzy ensued after President Donald Trump released his proposed budget last Thursday, which included 31% cut to the EPA. A few predicting outcomes of this include eliminating more than 50 programs and 3,200 jobs, and cutting funding for the Office of Research and Development in half Most concerning to Marylander’s was that funding for the massive Chesapeake Bay cleanup project, which receives $73 million each year, would be cut to zero. Many farmers have been wondering how this change would affect them.

"The Chesapeake Bay funding in jeopardy goes primarily to the Chesapeake Bay Program Office for coordination and of the partnership and running the Model. However, some of this funding does go out in grants to states like Maryland to support programs in furtherance of Chesapeake Bay restoration," stated Lindsay Thompson. "Maryland agriculture has made great strides in the Bay cleanup effort and we need to remain positive, congress still has to propose a budget and ultimately make funding decisions."

Most other departments saw a cut in funding as well, with the exception of Department of Veteran Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. The Trump administration is seeking to cut 21% of the Department of Agriculture’s budget. Vulnerable programs include rural development and research grants but exclude SNAP (food stamps) and crop subsidies. The USDA will also reduce staff by an unspecified amount at various service center agencies around the country.  

“At this time of year when I was a kid, my dad did a lot of moldboard plowing to get the ground in shape for planting,” says Hutchison. “This meant the plow dug about 8-inches deep and, as it sliced through the soil, turned the ground completely over. We had been taught this method would lead to better yields and better weed control. Over the years, we learned the opposite – that minimum tillage and no-till could give us as good or better results. By reducing tillage, we saved on labor, reduced emissions, and most importantly for the Bay and our future as farmers, minimized soil erosion,” he adds. 

Net exports are calculated as the difference between exports and imports. The 2016 calendar year concluded with U.S. net exports of 838 million gallons, the second highest level ever, exceeded only in 2011. U.S. ethanol shipments exceeded 1 billion gallons, and incoming shipments totaled nearly 215 million gallons in 2016. 

For a majority of the 2000s, Brazil was the largest net exporter of ethanol in the world, and the United States was among the world’s largest net importers. The United States started as a net exporter of ethanol in 2010, exporting more than 410 million gallons and importing more than 131 million gallons that year.

While these launches have been designed to mitigate risk, NCGA continues to urge growers to double consult with the Know Before You Grow online tool for a full listing of commercial hybrids and their international approval status prior to planting. Growers should always read their grower agreements and consult with both their seed salespersons and grain buyers. This is why NCGA works with technology providers to publicize regular updates on the approval status of these events.