The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it is expanding its support of new farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met in Ames, Iowa with over a dozen young, beginning, and military veteran farmers. He listened to their start-up stories and announced another $18 million in grants to help new farmers get going. Vilsack says the diversity of farmers, crops, and production strategies all make the food system more resilient. He’s also tried to connect government policy with the on-the-ground needs for farmers.
"I’ve encouraged those in the regulatory space to have that conversation so that there is not this us-against-them kind of mentality," Vilsack says.
The Agriculture Department has spent more than $125 million on beginning farmer programs since Vilsack took office.