The governors from the nine states that asked the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for $50 million to buy more pork to help support the struggling industry got their answer from Secretary Tom Vilsack last week. The answer? No help available for pork.The Farm Futures website is reporting that Secretary Vilsack told the industry that, ‘"[w]e are down to our last $7-8 million because there's been such a demand for so many kinds of commodities, including pork . . . We are trying to meet the demands of everyone."’ However, more money may become available when the new fiscal year starts. Yet, Vilsack and the department will still have to make tough determinations as to what industries need the help and where it makes the most sense to spend any available funds.
In the meantime, Secretary Vilsack is also looking at ways in which the USDA can get China to accept US pork imports. This too was a point of concern and emphasis of the nine governors. According to Vilsack, the Chinese government has its own concerns about a congressional restriction on products from China. Vilsack is hopeful that the USDA “can [] convince members of Congress that USDA can ensure the safety and security of any product coming from China.”
To read the Farm Futures story click here.
Posted: 08/17/09
