Kathleen Merrigan (center), USDA Deputy Secretary, gets a lesson on scouting for spider mites in a Central Illinois soybean field from Philip Nelson (right) Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) President, and David Meiss, IFB Director and Gridley, Ill. farmer. Merrigan made two stops in Central Illinois Monday morning to see the impact of this year's drought firsthand. Merrigan called on Congress to approve a multi-year farm bill with crop insurance and disaster assistance for row crop farmers, livestock and poultry producers as well as specialty crop growers. (Photo by Mike Orso)

USDA Deputy Secretary visits McLean County farms

Kathleen Merrigan believes Congress will eventually pass a comprehensive Farm Bill later this year.

Compiled by staff

Published: Aug 20, 2012

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan’s stopped first on Monday at the farm of David Meiss near Gridley in McLean County to examine the impact of this year’s drought on Illinois crop farmers and livestock producers. Merrigan made a prediction on the chances both houses of the U.S. Congress may actually approve a farm bill when members return after Labor Day;

As a former staffer to a former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Merrigan believes a farm bill with crop insurance provisions makes more sense than trying to approve ad hoc federal disaster assistance programs every time U-S farmers face a drought or flood.

Merrigan says when it comes to supplies of major commodities the U-S “…is not going to be desperate…” and that food here at home and abroad won’t be a problem.

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