United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, visited St. Louis as part of a nationwide tour promoting the Biden administration's $800 million investment in rural infrastructure and job creation. Missouri is set to receive over $70 million from the USDA for these initiatives.
Vilsack emphasized the importance of improving rural lives through enhanced business opportunities and better infrastructure. He highlighted the potential for climate-smart agriculture, which could lead to increased income for farmers by employing precision agriculture and reducing input costs.
While at the Minnesota State Fair and heading to the Farm Progress Show in Illinois, Vilsack discussed the challenges facing American agriculture. Despite recent record farm incomes, income concentration is a significant issue, with a small percentage of farms holding the majority of income. To address this, Vilsack proposed more support and options for small and midsize producers, which would also benefit rural communities.
Regarding environmental concerns, Vilsack mentioned the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program, a market-driven initiative with over $3.1 billion invested in 141 projects. This program promotes climate-conscious production and marketing practices in American agriculture.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-pra-chid
Categories: Missouri, Business, Government & Policy, Rural Lifestyle