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MU: Biden approach to USDA to differ from Trump

A University of Missouri research associate expects the Biden Administration’s approach to the USDA to differ from that of Trump’s.

Ben Brown with MU’s Division of Applied Social Sciences (formerly with Ohio State) says Trump’s view of the USDA was to support farm incomes.

“And it didn’t matter what else happened as long as farm incomes were study. So that could mean an influx of government cash payments. President Biden seems to be taking a more general and diverse approach to USDA.”

Brown says taking on climate change is inevitable, “I think it was going to happen before President Biden got elected but then with the Biden administration and Democrats holding both chambers of Congress, I think climate change is just – it’s going to happen. We’re going to see action in that space.”

Brown expects USDA will also be a big part of Biden’s economic agenda through rural economic development, infrastructure, vaccine distribution as part of rural health, and increased nutrition assistance.