Secretary of Agriculture unveils strategy for rural development

The Council of State Governments, Agriculture Weekly Update, March 25, 2005

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns unveiled his strategy for rural development at a conference sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Billed as his first statements on rural development, the secretary presented few new proposals. He stressed that rural development programs are a high priority for him but he urged cooperation between state, local and federal groups to make the most of what will be limited funding. “The president has proposed $12.8 billion for rural development in the USDA budget for 2006,” Johanns said. He warned, however, that federal dollars would be tight and that some programs would have to be eliminated. He said these steps were necessary to address the deficit.

A transcript of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns’ March 21, 2005, speech to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s “The State of 21st Century Rural America: Implications for Policy and Practice” seminar can be read by clicking here.