WASHINGTON, DC – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made his first appearance in front of the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday to answer a wide range of questions from trade with China to making indigenous and culturally acceptable foods available to their respective communities through USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
One common area of concern from the Committee was the issue of struggles by dairy farmers, both through government programs as well as in the trade arena.
Vilsack reassured members that the Administration would continue to fight for rights the domestic dairy industry won in recent trade deals, and would also be receptive to changing milk marketing orders if the industry could find common ground to solve the long-standing problems.
Vilsack, the only person to serve as Secretary of USDA under two different Administrations, also explained how USDA plans to utilize Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to promote “climate-smart” adoption by farmers, ranchers, and foresters and outlined how he will continue to educate and fight for agriculture when other agencies make decisions that will negatively affect production agriculture.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)