News
USDA is working to address challenges facing farmers
The USDA is taking steps to address two major challenges facing farmers.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Xochitl Torres Small told Brownfield that high input costs and a shortage of available labor continued to cause problems.
“The USDA has worked hard on both fronts. For example, we have the fertilizer program where we invest in domestic fertilizer production to make sure that farmers have resources here domestically, even when things like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine happen and disrupt international markets.”
She says that while the workforce is outside of USDA’s programmatic control, the department is looking for solutions.
“When I was in Congress, I co-sponsored the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. And as we wait for action from Congress, we know that it had the opportunity to address immigration earlier this year but chose not to. The USDA is working to show that there are ways to make things work.”
One example, according to Torres Small, is the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Program, which supports agricultural employers in implementing strict labor standards.
Brownfield interviewed the secretary last week during the Minnesota Farmfest.
