Agricultural News
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Calls on Congress to Pass a Farm Bill in 2012
Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:16:57 CST
If a Farm Bill is written this year, it needs to be about more than just "tinkering with the payment system" by investing in agricultural research and beginning farmers and ranchers, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack said during the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville today.
"The first and most important thing we can do this year is to pass a Farm Bill and pass it now," he said. "We need to make sure we send a consistent message to our members of Congress."
In addition to preserving a stable crop insurance system and reaching an agreement on a safety net plan to back crop insurance, Vilsack said programs must be adjusted to encourage more beginning farmers and ranchers.
He applauded the joint work of the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders last fall to draft a bipartisan Farm Bill proposal, but emphasized that more work will begin after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) releases its budget numbers this spring.
He said that the three monetary "pots" of the Farm Bill include farm programs within the Commodity Title of the Bill- as well as Crop Insurance, conservation and nutrition. The Obama Administration proposed a controversial $8 billion cut to the federal crop insurance program in its FY 2013 budget proposal, which several agriculture groups spoke against. Vilsack said today that discussions will continue on where budget savings will be made, but "we can't do that until we have the numbers."
We have Secertary Vilsack's complete comments made to those at the General Session at Commodity Classic in Nashville on Friday. Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear his speech.
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