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Vilsack talks about issues critical to farmers and their famili Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Agri News staff writer
DES MOINES -- Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Lang thanked ag secretary Tom Vilsack for retooling USDA lending programs to help struggling farmers during a Rural Tour forum in the cattle barn media center at the Iowa State fair.
Vilsack said the Farm Service Agency sent a letter to direct borrowers outlining options available to ease financial stress. USDA will conduct a conference call this week with all its guaranteed lender banks encouraging them to use all tools available to assist FSA guaranteed borrowers.
USDA is using American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds to provide additional loans.
"We need to find ways to allow these people to stay in business," Vilsack said. "It doesn't do us or the banks any good to lose farmers. Dairy and pork producers will cash flow if given time."
Dan Dirkx, a corn and soybean farmer from Auburn, introduced Vilsack to his 10 children who he called, "the future of agriculture."
He said that he was able to start farming several years ago thanks to the beginning farmer loan program, and he said he hoped that program continues.
Vilsack said some of the stimulus dollars are earmarked for beginning farmer loans. USDA is also looking for ways to make it viable for small- and medium-sized farmers to start and continue farming.
Fairfield dairy farmer Francis Thicke asked Vilsack what is being done to fight anti-trust in agricultural markets. Increasingly uncompetitive markets, especially in dairy, make it difficult for small producers, he said.
USDA and the Justice Department will hold hearings on open and competitive markets in agriculture starting in January, Vilsack said.
Rob Brenneman, who operates Brenneman Pork near Washington, asked Vilsack what he could do to make sure his son and his two nephews, who were sitting next to him, have a future in pork production.
"The problem is that we're too damned good at our job," Brenneman said. "We're as efficient as we can get. We're doing the best we can to survive. I want a future for these guys and all the other young families who finish pigs for me."
Denise O'Brien, an Atlantic Community Supported Agriculture producer, said that if there was a national system that provided access to affordable health care, more people would be willing to start farming, especially on a small scale.
Vilsack agrees that health care reform is needed.
"The status quo is unacceptable," he said. "We have got to reform health care because right now rural America is coming out on the short end of a very long stick."
Ryan Hoksbergen, a Pella dairy farmer, thanked Vilsack for helping dairy farmers.
"I think there's a bright future for dairy," Hoksbergen said. "I'm an example of someone who started from scratch on my own. I think things are starting to turn around, and over time prices will recover thanks to what USDA has done and self-help programs by dairy farmers themselves."
Mike Ver Steeg, who owns an 850-sow farrow to wean operation at Inwood, said he has no doubt that he will survive the current pork crisis.
"I'm not asking for handouts because I think I can run my farm better than the government can," Ver Steeg said. "What you could focus on is the name the news media continually uses for the flu (H1N1) and on trade."
Ver Steeg also asked Vilsack not to pass cap and trade climate change legislation.
"I pay $2,400 a month in electricity, and if cap and trade goes through, I'll pay 30 to 50 percent more," Ver Steeg said. "There's no profit now. That's going to hurt small farms like me."
If structured correctly, Vilsack said he sees cap and trade offering huge income potential through offsets for farmers. |
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