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Vilsack, Perdue discuss USDA budget

 

Former USDA chief Tom Vilsack and Ag Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue discussed possible USDA budget cuts. Vilsack says, “I did express concern, and this was before the President’s budget was provided, I did express concerns that there might be a disproportionate cut attributed to USDA and that people needed to realize in the new administration that for the last eight years, USDA has been very efficiently run and I think the Governor acknowledged that.”

He tells Brownfield key USDA programs need more money, not less.  “It would involve potentially the understaffing of FSA offices where credit, disaster payments, CRP programs are instituted and implemented.  It might impact and affect the ability to create jobs in rural areas if rural development is substantially reduced.  The research budget is being hit pretty hard at a time when we need more money in agricultural research.”

Trump’s proposed budget calls for a 21-percent cut to USDA programs.

 

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