Farmers are concerned about uncertainties at the federal level.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel says recent layoffs at USDA and questions about the farm bill and tax policies are causing stress on the farm.
“There’s question around just the availability of some of these current programs and what farmers can rely on as far as thinking through their operation for the year. So I think that’s been kind of the first and foremost conversations I’ve had with farmers.”
She tells Brownfield her department is doing what it can to provide certainty.
“In terms of technical assistance or any grants that they might be needing to use for value-added or anything like that, we’re still fighting hard to keep those strong and intact.”
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently made an emergency declaration in the wake of disease outbreaks to make zero-interest loans available to producers forced to depopulate chickens or turkeys.
