Secretary Vilsack Urgest House to Move on Farm Bill

Secretary Vilsack Urges House to Move on Farm Bill

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stresses the importance of moving the recently House Ag Committee-approved Farm Bill or HR 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, to a vote before the August recess.

With much of the midwest and south gripped by drought, Vilsack urges U.S. Congressmen and women to make this bill a priority and move forward on it now.?

Vilsack: “Really what has to happen is the House of Representatives has to have a vote on the Food Farm and Jobs bill as soon as possible. There is nothing more important to Rural America. There is nothing more important to the producers, farmers and ranchers of this country then action on this bill. As everyone knows action on this bill could very well revive the disaster programs for livestock producers which expired on September 30th of last year.”

Vilsack continues.

Vilsack: “I don’t know of a single farmer that would take a recess if there was work to be done or a vacation if there was work to be done in the field. I’m sure that many members of Congress feel the same way. Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson, no doubt understand the importance of this and call for immediate action. I join with them in making that request to House leadership to get the work done so we can get it into conference and get whatever differences resolved and ironed out.”

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.