6-10 IAN Know Your Farmer

 Farmer’s markets and the USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food campaign engaged in a little controversy. I’m David Sparks and I’ll be right back to explain. Boise’s farmer’s market is fabulously successful and throughout Idaho, farmer’s markets are increasing in terms of numbers and participants. We’ve done lots of stories on these kinds of operations and a consistent theme from consumers has been, it’s a great idea to Know Your Farmer and Know Your Food.

 But three Republican Senators recently criticized USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food campaign. In a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack 3 senators questioned the amount spent on the program and its direction - claiming the effort is aimed at small, hobbyist and organic producers whose customers generally consist of affluent patrons at urban farmers markets. They went on to suggest USDA is ignoring conventional farmers who produce the vast majority of the nation’s food supply. Secretary Vilsack responded this way: “The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food effort really is utilizing proceeds as they’ve directed. It was their Farm Bill 2008 that directed 5% of our resources to be directed to local production and local consumption efforts but we’re also focused on production agriculture in Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food. I just got through a briefing last week where we have mapped all of the slaughter facilities and linked it up against where livestock is being produced so we can determine if there are holes in the processing systems of this country.” The Senators did request proof of Congressional authority to spend money for the purposes of this effort