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May 20 media briefing on USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative
Important: Refer to the three presentations for more details:
1) Slaughter Availability to Small Livestock and Poultry Producers
2) Regional Food Hubs
3) USDA Farm to School
Opening remarks: Secretary Tom Vilsack
Sec. Visack opened the briefing by putting the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative in context. UDA is very interested in farmers’ and ranchers’ profitability, and in supporting and rebuilding rural communities. To revitalize the rural economy, we need new domestic efforts: broadband, biofuels, the expansion of habitats and natural ecosystems within agriculture, and drawing a closer link between those who produce food and those who consume food. This initiative is a comprehensive effort to develop that closer link, whether for small, medium or large production systems.
Slaughter Availability (Matthew Michael, Food Safety Inspection Service)
Michael covered current strengths and weaknesses. See the presentation for maps showing slaughter and rendering facilities. Slide 2 identifies areas of high densities of small livestock producers without a nearby slaughter facility, for which we need to provide assistance, as large facilities often won’t accept animals from small producers. (Small livestock and poultry producers are defined as having annual sales of $250,000 or less.) Wyoming as a whole is a gap—there is no inspected facility for slaughter in the whole state. Other gaps are shown on other maps. Composite maps also show gaps for cattle, hogs and poultry.
FSA Perspective: Administrator Jonathan Coppess
Coppess offered some brief perspective on the Farm Service Agency, which is important to the Know your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, fostering a better understanding between those who eat and those who produce food. Growing opportunities in rural areas will improve conditions for communities and the producers. It is very important to understand the risks the farmers face, and to foster better understanding between farmers and those who aren’t regarding the situations family farmers face. Some of these are operations that go on for generations, which is at the core of how farmers feel about taking care of the land. Growing these new opportunities in these rural communities will build on the foundation and backbones of these rural communities. Both biofuels and new places to sell commodities will help farmers looking for opportunities in those rural communities. They need new markets and better options for buying feed and crops. We also need a better connection between farmers and the consuming public: how we can make farming work better and provide safety nets for farmers.
Presentation: Food Hubs (Jim Barham, AMS)
Barham spoke on linking producers to new markets (please refer to the slide presentation). He also explained the idea of a “food hub,” which incorporates aggregation and wholesale distribution; active coordination; and permanent facilities. He developed a map of 33 coordinated food hubs, and is thinking in terms of both existing and potential food hubs (coordinated food hubs, hybrid markets, shipping-point markets, and wholesale/terminal markets).
RD Perspective (Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl Cook)
Cook presented the perspective of USDA’s Rural Development program, focusing on the important role of agriculture in rural economies and the need for job creation. There is no greater successful story than farm productivity. We should not take our food supply for granted. This is a national program meant to address regional issues, which includes a business and industry loan program.
Presentation: Farm-to-School (Diane Kriviski, Food and Nutrition Service)
Kriviski said that the Farm-to-School program helps keep money circulating regionally, and that it can be connected to the school lunch program, which helps connect children to the food they eat. Over 40 states have programs that support farm to school programs. The farm to school program was launched in September, 2009 to support local and regional food systems. She described the different roles FNS and AMS play in the farm-to-school team. Please see the slides for the program goals, which cover different areas of varied demographics and farm to school characteristics.
Presentation: High Tunnel Pilot Study (Chief Dave White)
Natural Resources Conservation Services Chief Dave White spoke specifically about hoop houses, which save water, reduce pesticide use, and provide an extended growing season for the producer, along with increased yield and a lengthened seasonal access to consumers for fresh produce. NRCS has received over 2,760 applications for this program, and has accepted 1,000. NRCS intend to continue offering this program next year as well.
Closing Remarks: Deputy Secretary Merrigan
The audience has heard from three sub-committees. This is not a program, doesn’t have its own budget, or staff. A cross-agency task force, to make our programs work better, and facilitate a conversation, what our working farmers and lands do day in and day out. It is a good start. This has been underway since last September.
Question and Answer
Question about the goal of the livestock production small plants study: Merrigan said that she intends to use this important first step to inform everyone of the situation via a gap analysis and options (e.g., Rural Development can help fund mobile slaughter facilities). Is a status report on an on-going project and analysis.
Question about maps about slaughter facilities: Secretary Vilsack said we need to know weaknesses and responsibilities to help better inform the market and coordinate our efforts to build the rural economy that helps producers and creates jobs.
Questions about USDA research did before launching the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative: Secretary Vilsack said it was based largely on the Census of Agriculture, which showed the need to revitalize rural economies.
Question on the Farm-to-School Program: the main goal is to expand fruit and vegetable offerings from local sources.
Kathleen Merrigan said that in general, USDA’s role is to provide the information farmers and ranchers need to make decisions regarding production and markets. Secretary Vilsack noted that Wal-Mart is also trying to link up local producers with their regional stores.
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