This week, President Obama released his budget proposal that once again specifically targets the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) for cuts. The budget proposes to slash insurance premium subsidies for farmers and payments made to private insurance carriers for administering the program.

The Big “I” believes that attacking farmers’ most important risk management tool only weakens the carefully crafted and bipartisan farm safety net that protects countless acres of American farmland.

The Big “I” and several other crop insurance industry groups sent a joint letter to Senate and House leaders expressing strong opposition to the cuts and urging Congress to oppose the President’s budget proposal. The letter highlights the rigorous Farm Bill debate, which lasted more than two years, and cautions against reopening discussions on a bill that was passed less than a year ago. It also reminds Congress that the FCIP has already contributed more than $10 billion towards deficit reduction over the past six years.

The letter says the “budget levels currently in place for crop insurance ensure the affordability and availability of risk protection, while maintaining the viability of private-sector delivery. Arbitrary funding reductions only weaken the system and ultimately shifts risk exposure back to taxpayers.”

Immediately following the budget release, Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) introduced S. 345, a bill “to limit the level of premium subsidy provided by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to agricultural producers.” During the Farm Bill debate, the Big “I” lobbied successfully against capping the premiums farmers use to purchase adequate coverage for their farmland. The association strongly opposes S. 345.

Jen McPhillips is Big “I” senior director of federal government affairs.