WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce is traveling across rural communities to meet directly with farmers and ranchers and hear their concerns about federal programs.
During a stop in Colorado, Fordyce said the meetings give producers an opportunity to communicate directly with USDA officials about issues affecting their operations.
“It is literally an open forum for folks with all kinds of interests, growing all kinds of different crops, raising livestock, for them to have direct dialogue with us about things that we probably need to know,” Fordyce said.
Fordyce says USDA is also looking for ways to make its programs more efficient. While some changes require congressional action, he says the department has flexibility to adjust how certain programs are administered based on feedback from producers.
“This USDA right now is farmer first, rancher first,” he said.
Fordyce has additional stops planned in other states this year as USDA continues gathering input from producers on how federal programs can better serve rural America.
