WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — Sugar beet and sugarcane farmers are heading into harvest, backed by support from federal officials. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, the second-in-command at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reiterated the crucial role farmers play in safeguarding the nation’s food supply.
“One of the things that is important to keep in mind is that for everything this administration does, no harm must come to America’s farm and rural communities,” Vaden says. “The best way that we can ensure Americans are healthy and well taken care of is to ensure that as much as possible of what they eat is grown here in the United States of America. We have the most efficient, the most sustainable, and the safest food supply the world has ever seen. We should want that food supply to be what’s on the plate of every American.”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials are also weighing in, assuring growers they are working to ensure quick access to crop protection tools.
“This is our laser focus, to improve the tools that we can bring to you to help grow your crop,” Vaden continues. “I can assure you that Administrator Zeldin is 100% committed to ensuring that we are using gold standard science in everything that we do, in all our reviews of all pesticides. So, we know that pesticides are vital tools. We know you need them to control pests, to increase yield, to decrease food loss, and we are going to work to get you those tools.”
Officials from both the USDA and EPA say the goal is to maintain a strong food supply in America while ensuring that farmers have the necessary resources.
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