News

USDA considering ways to help farmers deal with rising input costs

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his department is looking at ways to help farmers deal with rapidly increasing input costs.

During a virtual appearance at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention Thursday, Vilsack suggested it’s a complicated situation caused in part by supply chain disruptions.

“We continue to work with transportation (and) the Maritime Commission and others to make sure that we’re addressing the issue of our ports.”

He tells Brownfield there are other ways USDA might be able to help.

“We are in the process of taking a look at ways in which we can use some of the capacity under the Commodity Credit Corporation to address (rising input costs).”

Congress is also looking into the problem.  Earlier this month the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on supply chain issues where several members raised concerns about fertilizer supply shortages and skyrocketing fertilizer prices.