WASHINTON D.C.- The Department of Agriculture and Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled steps to recenter U.S. agriculture and benefit small and midsized operations, including a proposed new “Product of USA” labeling rule and an $89 million expansion of the USDA intermediary lending program. Vilsack also announced a new “seed liaison” in the department to increase fairness in the commodity biotech industry, and proposed changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act.

Vilsack highlighted that the developments mark progress in the Biden administration’s approach to transform the existing food system, and increase resilience and profitability. He said that despite record farm income in 2022, 50% of farms nationwide brought in negative farm income. Vilsack attributed this to the “get big or get out” structure of production-based agriculture, which took hold in the 1970s.

Vilsack announced new investments in diversifying local and regional meat processors, including $89 million in guaranteed loans through the USDA’s intermediary lending program. In regards to "Product of USA", currently you may raise the animal in another country and package the meat in the U.S. and add that sticker. The new rule will require goods that use a “Product of USA” label to have their whole production cycle based in the United States.

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