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Vilsack asks pointed questions in face of farm decline
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack challenged attendees of this morning’s USDA Ag Outlook Forum to consider the consequences of fewer U.S. farms.
“Ask yourself whether you’re okay with losing a half million farms in a lifetime. Ask yourself if you’re okay with America losing 165 million acres of land that was in farming that’s no longer in farming. Ask yourself if it’s okay for us to just simply focus on the top seven or ten percent.”
He says America’s farmers and ranchers need to know they are valued.
“Not just for what they do, but for who they are. If we ask ourselves (these questions) I think we will begin to aim higher. We’ll begin to figure out how government, through a farm bill, through a budget, through the Commodity Credit Corporation, through the (Inflation Reduction Act), through all of the tools, can keep every farmer in mind.”
Vilsack says he’s committed to that.
“I hope you are too.”
USDA’s Ag Outlook Forum goes through tomorrow in Arlington, Virginia.
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Small farms have a hard time meeting the financial rules.
1 if they even get a program ,must have the money upbringing farmers do not have old money front to get the program done. Do not recieve money till paid by farmer., so that was why he asked for help. Most if had money to do job.,would not have filed form.-
Agreed, I’m a veteran and farmer. Ive.been farming for 3 years and couldn’t get a loan to do so, so every penny we have left from.bills goes to farming as we enjouly it and helping the community but its getting difficult to fund. Grants are very difficult because you need money to make money and in the first years of farming, money is non existent, at least for me. The programs and grants they have aren’t set for new farmers. It’s for new farmers with old money or old farmers. Hopefully they will see the desire in many of of to farm and change the programs to help small scale farmers like myself. To me small.scale.isnt less than $1 million, it’s the farmers making less than $50k and want to scale up. Help us grow and you’ll get.more farmers. Thanks for what your doing Mr. Secretary as you shine a light on the issues.
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I farmed on a small scale my whole life I am 63 years old. The words don’t match the disparity created by really bad policy. I never collected a program payment. I’ve paid my way.. It is time the top 10 percent quit getting got. Welfare
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Great questions as I’m a 3rd generation farmer. But I see those questions just being that a big nothing buger. Big government in my opinion wants fewer farmers which makes easier to regulate. Nevermind having more family farms would certainly help keep a more secure food supply.
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Don’t worry about raising crops or livestock…Worry about growing your farm. That has been the mantra put out by lenders and government. I remeber a conversation with a banker 30 years ago who said its easier to watch what one borrower is doing than keeping an eye 20 borrowers. Enough said
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Congres care more about people in other countries than the United States Citizen. People on SSI, SSDI can live on 790$ a month. Congressman should have to try and make their bills on that. The border is a joke, the farmer can no longer make a living with their dumb laws. Our electricity is so high it’s insane but they have enough money to give other countries which proves we’re over taxed. The inflation is insane don’t come here.
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Thank you Mr Secretary. The losses of people and businesses in rural America is dramatic as well as the effects it has not only in rural America but all of the country. Our youth are always the future of our country. Most no longer learn life skills on the farm or in rural towns. It effects are obvious. Thank you again Tom for what you are doing. It is so discouraging to see the few big farmers in our area buy up everything that comes up for sale. Young farmers or would be farmers have no chance unless they have family who farm and can help them.
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Sounds like an election year. I seem to recall some Biden administration initiative to retire a lot of US farm ground by 2030. Which would coordinate with the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset”. You can eat insects, you will own nothing and be happy,
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This quote says it all, “We’ll begin to figure out how government . . . can keep every farmer in mind.”
The modern solution is always more government. That flies in the face of what our nation is supposed to be about.
How about reducing the role of the federal government as well as reduce taxes across the board? Government is not the answer.
Inflation reduction act for the Biden administration is cheap input costs, mostly for meats, hogs, cattle and chickens. By the way of cheap grains. Corn soybean and wheat.