Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’s concerned about the rhetoric coming from the incoming Trump Administration on reducing the size of government because any reductions to the USDA budget will hurt U.S. agriculture.
“The unfortunate circumstance is at USDA, we’re dealing with a budget that has not grown at all in the last eight years,” says Vilsack.
Vilsack has outlined a series of priorities for the next administration and says USDA should continue to modify and maintain a strong farm safety net.
Farmers still need to be able to ship their products to markets, so the need to invest in infrastructure modernization of roads, bridges, railroads and river locks will continue to be critical.
Vilsack says the next administration will also be responsible for ensuring the new GMO labeling law is implemented properly, must continue to fund programs for new and beginning farmers and must take the needs of agriculture into account when it takes on immigration reform.
Vilsack’s last day in office is reportedly Jan. 13.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com