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USDA’s Merrigan on budget, FTAs, EPA

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says the USDA is taking a tough look at the budget and is making “strategic decisions on cutting back here and there.”

“But we’re doing so to win the future, as the president has challenged us,” says Merrigan, “And so we are constantly thinking ‘how do we out innovate, out educate and out build the rest of the world?’ because, that’s the real competition.  And, I think we can do it with some reduction in our resources.”

Brownfield asked Merrigan, during an interview about National Ag Day, about some of the other key issues of great interest to farmers including ratification of the pending Free Trade Agreements. She says the USDA continues to push for those FTAs with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.

“Korea is going to be an amazing benefit to producers. So, we are making those calls. The secretary is very deeply engaged in helping the president see those through,” says Merrigan.

GOP Senators are threatening to block the confirmation of a new Commerce Secretary if the President doesn’t move the Panama and Colombia FTAs to Congress along with the Korea agreement which he seems to favor.

The White House Press office late Tuesday said President Obama is committed to enhancing U.S. leadership in Central and South America and recognizes the economic value of trade. It says U.S. trade agreements with Central and South America “already cover 7 countries and $471 billion in total goods traded with more set to be added when the outstanding issues with Panama and Colombia are resolved and those FTAs are put forward for Congressional approval.”

As for the overreach many farmers believe the Environmental Protection Agency has on regulatory issues affecting farmers, Deputy Secretary Merrigan says the USDA is working closely with EPA as that agency contemplates ways to address responsibilities placed on them by the courts and through statutes.

“We’ve been working closely with them on issues around total maximum daily loads (TMDL) under the Clean Water Act,” says Merrigan, “And trying to find ways that farmers who are doing the kind of conservation efforts that our Natural Resources Conservation Service supports can be recognized for their good stewardship.”

AUDIO: Deputy Ag Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, Tuesday, March 15 (5 min. MP3)