Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture says he doesn’t yet know how proposed cuts of billions of USDA dollars might affect Iowans.
Agencies that would be impacted include the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development programs, and likely the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income families purchase food.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says he trusts U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“I know that Secretary Rollins has said many times she wants to bring USDA back to its core mission and to be farmer-focused,” Naig says. “We’re going to take them at their word, and so there’s everything from, how is USDA reorganized and rightsized and does it continue to put farmers first?”
Naig says he’s hopeful countries will continue trade negotiations after Vietnam announced plans to purchase U.S. farm commodities. That includes $800 million dollars for Iowa agriculture products — mostly corn, soybeans, and pork.
(By James Kelley, Iowa Public Radio)