USDA food plan is pledging a ‘better deal’ for farmers
Forestry. In a statement, he said the pro- posal “misses the mark and fails to meet the moment.” Ranking member U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., said in a statement that the framework “blatantly ignores the sky- rocketing inflation rates and input costs that are crushing America’s producers, compounded by the administration’s bur- densome regulatory overreach.” In answering a question posed by the USA Rice Federation about what USDA is doing to secure and protect U.S. agricultur- al production and processing to maintain
food security domestically and overseas, Vilsack said, “Part of it is trying to address the congestion problems; part of it is trying to make sure that we have relationships with other countries so that markets re- main open. “There’s a series of steps that we’re tak- ing in effort to try to continue to expand export opportunities,” Vilsack said, adding that USDA is working with ocean carriers and ports to solve congestion. The framework includes investments in
By Christine Souza U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has unveiled a framework to address “a litany of chal- lenges” in order to transform the U.S. food system to become more resilient and help farmers, producers and consumers. “We live in a great time of disruption,” Vilsack said last week during a live-stream appearance, in which he announced the release of the USDA Food System Transformation Framework. “A trans- formed food system is part of how we as a country become more resilient and com- petitive in the face of these big and future challenges and threats.” Referencing challenges of the pandem- ic, changing climate, supply-chain disrup- tions, inflation and more, Vilsack said it is important to strengthen the country’s food system across all aspects of the sup- ply chain. He also called for building on lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis and resulting supply-chain disruptions. Transforming the nation’s food system, Vilsack said, must be comprehensive and touch on four elements: production, pro- cessing, food distribution and aggregation, and market development. Vilsack noted that the program and poli- cies announced are at different stages, with some deployed now and others happening in the next few months, with resources ob- ligated by the end of the year. “A transformed food system will deliv- er a better deal for farmers, ranchers and growers and consumers through more new and better markets while also stim- ulating our rural economy,” Vilsack said. Republican leaders criticized the frame- USDA seeks to fill vacant board seat The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill a seat on the National Organic Standards Board. The nomination deadline is Aug. 5 for a five-year term, which begins next January. The National Organic Standards Board is a 15-member volunteer advisory board appointed by the agriculture secretary. It makes recommendations on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances and other topics related to organic agriculture. USDA encourages applications from tra- ditionally underrepresented individuals, organizations and businesses to reflect the diversity of the organic sector. Qualified candidates may also apply to be consid- ered for future unexpected vacancies on the board. For more information about the positions, member time commit- ment and workload, visit the NOSB Nominations page at www.ams.usda. gov/rules-regulations/organic/nosb/ nomination-process.
work, noting that much of the funding draws from the American Rescue Plan Act and other pandemic-era relief already al- lotted to USDA. “Our global food-supply system faces severe challenges that require serious re- sponses,” said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and
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