Vilsack Announces Funding for Market Access Development
Ag secretary also highlights additional Section 32 purchases and rural development.
Jason Vance
Published: Nov 11, 2009
On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, while addressing the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City, Mo., announced that $234 million dollars is being provided to help trade organizations around the globe gain market access.
Vilsack highlighted some of the trade issues that are being worked on by USDA including pork trade markets in China, beef markets in Asia, the agreement with the European Union and organic standards that have been developed with Canada.
"This is one area in the economy, when we talk about trade deficits, this is one area where there is actually a trade surplus, in agriculture," Vilsack said. "It's important for us to continue working hard to make sure that surplus continues."
During his remarks, Vilsack also announced additional Section 32 purchases of commodities, the largest being a $50 million purchase of pork. Coupled with the earlier $30 million, that's $80 million being put into the pork industry. However, Vilsack says Section 32 funding is somewhat limited and USDA will have to be careful because no one knows what could happen in 2010.
Vilsack also discussed Rural Development and the opportunities that are available in rural America and the importance of the partnership between producers and rural communities.
"I think there are exciting days ahead, I really, truly do," Vilsack said. "For the first time in my adult lifetime I see an economic development direction that plays to the strengths of rural folks instead of drawing our kids away from our small towns."
To listen to an excerpt of Vilsack's remarks use the audio player above.
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Tagged: usda, farm, SURE, organic
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