暗黑爆料 brief:
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told western governors this week that he鈥檚 concerned about consolidation in food production.
Farm sector income reached record highs in 2022, , but the number of farms continues to decline and the average farm size is increasing. Vilsack said more than half of the nation's farms did not make a profit last year.
鈥淭he way our system was set up, it was either you get big or you get out,鈥� he said in a speech to the Western Governors鈥� Association in Jackson Hole, Wyo. 鈥淭he question I have for [the] western U.S. 鈥� for all of the U.S 鈥� is are we okay with that?鈥�
Vilsack said farm consolidation shrinks rural communities, which play a significant role in 鈥渢he values of our country.鈥� And he鈥檚 pushing for small farms and ranches to 鈥済et entrepreneurial鈥� to remain economically viable, which the Biden Administration supports.
鈥淭here are basically three strategies,鈥� Vilsack said. 鈥淎 climate-smart strategy, a reducing the cost of operation strategy, and a local and regional food system strategy.鈥�
The department wants to reward environmentally friendly farmers and ranchers through its 鈥溾�� programs. Vilsack said meat processing capacity also needs improvement, and more local and regional distribution networks that cater to smaller communities.
Many USDA programs are funded through the Farm Bill, . Congress will likely be debating reauthorization in the coming months.
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .