Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke before the House Agriculture Committee last week and brought up the next farm bill. He says he wants the committee to use the next bill to help him move rural America from an “extractive economy” to a “circular economy.”
He gave the committee some examples of the many ways to move rural communities into a circular economy such as increasing processing capacity in rural America, encouraging biobased manufacturing, finding ways to convert agricultural waste into renewable energy and fuel, plus climate smart agriculture.
Vilsack says USDA is ready to assist Congress in crafting the new farm bill and creating new revenue streams and opportunities for America’s producers.
House Ag Chair David Scott of Georgia said during the hearing that after the next congressional break, the committee will then begin working on the 2023 Farm Bill.
