More Farm Bill Programs

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack held a press conference yesterday to announce that USDA is making a historic $78 million investment in local and regional food systems, including food hubs, farmers markets, aggregation and processing facilities, distribution services, and other local food business enterprises.

VILSACK: Today we take additional steps to institutes the policies and programs authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill continuing the progress and momentum that we built following the passage of the Farm Bill. Today we announce the availability of $15-million dollars of resources to promote the farmers markets across the United States as well as an additional $15-million dollars for local food production and promotion.

He says these grants recognize the role that local food markets are playing in agriculture.

VILSACK: We're complimenting this announcement with additional resources under our Business and Industry loan program which is a traditional rural development program. $48-million dollars in loan guarantees will now be available for businesses that locate in America that support local and regional food systems. It could be a food hub for example. There are a number of opportunities that exists as well in urban centers to expand local food production and promotions.

For more information on these programs and how to apply, be sure and visit the USDA's website at www.usda.gov.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.