"Although the Republican Leadership seems determined to weaken our farmers, I can assure you this battle is not over," said Congressman Berry. "I intend to make as much noise as possible on behalf of the agriculture community until someone in Washington begins to realize how bad the situation is in rural America."

The largest proposed change to the Farm Bill includes $1.03 billion in cuts from commodity programs including direct payments to farmers and the elimination of the Step 2 cotton program. Additional cuts include $844 million from the food stamp program, $734 million in conservation programs, $23 million in renewable energy programs, $446 million in rural development programs, and $620 million in research.

Although budget reconciliation is primary used to cut spending, House Leadership is using the measure to make the $100 billion in tax cuts for the top 1% of Americans permanent. Instead of reducing spending, this would actually increase the deficit by $167 billion over the next five years. Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee offered several amendments during today's mark-up that would have prevented House Leadership from opening the Farm Bill to pay for larger deficits.

"While I understand the need to get our fiscal house in order, I do not understand why the agriculture community should take a serious pay-cut so the wealthiest Americans have a few more dollars in their pocket," said Congressman Berry. "Our farmers work long hours to keep this economy going despite some of the worst conditions since the Great Depression. We need to recognize this determination and stop beating them down with one budget cut after the next."

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee approved a similar measure with $3 billion in cuts to agriculture programs. Congress is expected to reconcile the differences and vote on these measures over the next few weeks.