The 85-billion dollar cuts to federal programs will be felt by those in rural America in many ways.
The 85-billion dollar cuts to federal programs will be felt by those in rural America in many ways. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says cuts mean open positions will not be filled and that could lead to some offices not being staffed.
Tom Vilsack, US Agriculture Secretary; "are not there."
Secretary Vilsack says USDA also oversees a number of food programs and cuts will come to those as well. He says the Women's Infant and Children program that supplies food to those in need will run out of money soon and that will impact 600-thousand people. USDA also provides housing assistance to about 10-thousand Americans and that will likely come to an end as well.
U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says they will try to be as equitable as possible regarding cuts to programs required through sequestration.
Vilsack; "to them as well."
Vilsack says there is much concern regarding the furloughing of meat inspectors at packing houses. He says sequester law prohibits the transfer of funds from other programs to fund inspectors. It will have a domino effect. If there is no meat inspectors packing houses will have to close and that will furlough other employees as well. It will also directly impact livestock producers as there will be no place to process their meat leaving grocery freezer cases empty for consumers.
Government agencies are looking at how to cut 85-billion dollars. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says they will be looking at farm payments carefully. Many producers have already received payment and others have not. This too creates a problem.
Vilsack; "a little deeper."
Vilsack says crop insurance is shield from sequester this year.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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