Proposed Budget May Impact Fruit Growers

Proposed Budget May Impact Fruit Growers. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday spent some time with reporters talking about the proposed 2012 USDA budget and what impacts that may have on producers. Good news is that exports are a key issue.

VILSACK: We are going to continue to promote exports. This budget actually proposes an increase in export assistance for every dollar that we invest in export assistance. We see a return of $35 of economic activity. That is something obviously that will help create jobs and create additional opportunities for our producers.

Housing programs may be affected.

VILSACK: On the rural development side, we are proposing and suggesting some tailoring of our housing programs, reducing some of the programs and eliminating others, but still try to meet the overall housing needs through a very aggressive Guaranteed Loan Program.

He turns his attention to conservation.

VILSACK: While there are some programs that are being reduced or eliminated, the overall impact of our investment and conservation will continue. We anticipate a record number of acres enrolled in a variety of conservation programs and a continued increase in the number of acres involved in those programs. Budgets are always difficult. They involve a variety of choices. This budget basically tries to deal with all of the realities and challenges I have mentioned in a balanced way

Since this is a proposed budget no one is sure of what impacts will affect northwest fruit.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.