USDA wants tougher test for program eligibility

Farm and Ranch October 5, 2009 U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told him the USDA is not interested in reducing the amount of money farmers can receive from federal commodity and conservation payments but will propose a tougher litmus test for subsidy eligibility.

Peterson: “They are working on the actively engaged and we asked them to do that. I can’t divulge exactly what they are looking, but it is going to impact some people, but it is not the folks that I’m particularly worried about and it is not going to impact our commercial producers that have multiple entities from what I can tell. So, I think it is going to be okay.”

Peterson says the new guidelines appear to be targeted at farmland investors.

Peterson: “That were using this to get around some of the situation. I am not sure it is going to impact a whole lot of people but it might impact some but they would not be the people I would call the real farmers.”

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln hadn’t had the conversation with the Secretary Peterson has.

Lincoln: “And I hope to have that conversation. If the Secretary has any ideas on where he is going and hoping that he will share that with me before he brings it out in public.”