Keep the Unique Nature of Rural America in Mind: lawmakers begin hammering on next Farm Bill

The process of hammering out the 2023 Farm Bill is officially underway. As lawmakers focus on a variety of programs, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says that they need to keep the unique nature of rural America in mind.

According to Vilsack, “One thing that we need to focus on as we begin this work is the importance of having flexible programs. I think we found during the course of the pandemic, during the course of very significant and disruptive natural resource, natural disasters, that different parts of the country have been impacted, affected differently, and sometimes, a program which is designed to be nationwide, works well in one part of the country but not as well in another part of the country.”

Vilsack also said that he wants the Farm Bill to encourage a “circular economy” that keeps processing and manufacturing jobs in the communities where the natural resources are being produced.


Related:

What the 2023 Farm Bill could mean for conservation

What are consumers hoping for in the next Farm Bill?

A Farm Bill impacts all consumers






Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.