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USDA working to address farmer challenges

USDA is taking steps to address two major challenges facing farmers.

Deputy Ag Secretary Xochitl Torres Small tells Brownfield high input costs and a lack of available workers continue to cause problems.

“The USDA has been working hard on both of those fronts. So we have the fertilizer program where we’re investing in domestic production of fertilizer to really make sure that farmers have resources here domestically, even as things like Russia’s aggression against Ukraine occur and disrupt international markets.”

She says while labor is outside USDA’s programmatic control, the department is looking to advance solutions.

“When I was in Congress, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, I was a co-sponsor of the bill. And recognizing as we wait for Congress to take action, they had opportunities to address immigration earlier this year and decided not to, USDA is working to show that there are opportunities to make things work.”

Torres Small says an example is the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Program that supports ag employers in implementing robust labor standards.

Brownfield interviewed the secretary during Minnesota Farmfest last week.