Vilsack encourages dialogue now on new farm bill

Posted on October 26, 2016

*Vilsack wants talk to begin as soon as possible on the next farm bill. (WJBC file photo)*

By Rita Frazer and Jeff Brown/farmweeknow RFD

WASHINGTON – Some lawmakers have expressed an interest in ramping up discussions about the next farm bill, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says he hopes they start off on a better foot than they did last time.

“The conversation in 2011-12 started with ‘we have to save money,’” he told the RFD Radio Network^® and other media Thursday at the National FFA Convention. “You start that, then you pit everyone against each other and you make it a lot more difficult to get a farm bill through.”

Instead, he encouraged an approach of identifying what needs to be accomplished.

“Then, once we’ve defined that universe, let’s be creative about how to meet as many of those needs as we possibly can,” he said.

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