The 2014 Farm Bill helped reduce the nation’s deficit with budget cuts, but further cutbacks in 2018 could cause a serious threat, says a letter from 502 agriculture groups, nutrition organizations, conservation departments and local governments.

The letter was spearheaded by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Bread for the World, Feeding America, the Food Research & Action Center, the National Association of Counties, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. It strongly urges Congress to reject additional cuts during this time of economic stress. It further reminds congressional leaders that the farm bill voluntarily reduced spending to the tune of $23 billion over ten years in the last go-round.

“We have all begun preparing for the 2018 Farm Bill and recognize that passing a bill with additional funding reductions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible,” the letter said. “Therefore, as the Senate and House Agriculture Committees begin preparing for the 2018 Farm Bill, it is imperative that the committees not be hamstrung by further budget or appropriations cuts to any farm bill program.”