Vilsack Concerned about Rapidly Approaching Deadline

Vilsack Shares Concerns About Rapidly Approaching Deadline

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

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told hundreds at the annual USDA Ag Outlook Forum last week that farm risk extends beyond the weather to things people can control - like across-the-board budget cuts set to hit March 1st.

Vilsack is concerned about those fast approaching spending cuts that could endanger USDA key services like meat inspection - unless Congress acts.

Vilsack: “Congress has the capacity and I think the responsibility ultimately to solve this problem. It is unfortunate but it is what it is and come March 1 we will take the steps we are required to by law because I don’t want to put anyone in a position where they potentially could violate the anti-deficiency law and subject them to criminal or civility penalties nor do I have any reassurance that there will be reimbursement coming down the line on this. There isn’t it is actually a reduction. It is bad, bad policy.”

Vilsack says labor contracts and notification requirements would dictate whether meat inspectors are furloughed in 30, 60 or 120-days.

Vilsack: “but if it is 30 days, and we start having furloughs 30 days from now that is going to have some impact. The markets will react to it. It is a bad situation and the best way to avoid this is for Congress to give us the authority to do what we would normally do in budget situations which is to move money around which we can’t do; or solve the problem pass deficient reduction.”