Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with about 100 local farmers, ranchers and agriculture leaders before giving a commencement address at the University of Minnesota-Crookston Saturday. At breakfast, Vilsack answered questions about Ukraine, trade, the farm bill and more. Crookston, Minnesota farmer Tim Dufault did not realize how far behind funding was for agricultural research. “Other agencies, over the last ten years, have received a 28 percent increase in spending, but ag research has not.” According to Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, there was a lot of discussion about 2023. “Whether it’s the farm bill, lingering impact of the war on Ukraine on grain, wheat, sugar and fertilizer prices and what the food system will look like, it’s interesting to hear his perspective.”
