Search Site   
Current News Stories
Solar eclipse, new moon coming April 8
Mystery illness affecting dairy cattle in Texas Panhandle
Teach others to live sustainably
Gun safety begins early
Hard-cooked eggs recipes great for Easter, anytime
Michigan carrot producers to vote on program continuation
Suggestions to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
USDA finalizes new ‘Product of the USA’ labeling rule 
U.S. weather outlooks currently favoring early planting season
Weaver Popcorn Hybrids expanding and moving to new facility
Role of women in agriculture changing Hoosier dairy farmer says
   
News Articles
Search News  
   
Trump directs 25 percent of 'new funds' to rural spending
 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While many in agriculture followed USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue’s lead in applauding the principles behind President Donald Trump’s Feb. 12 infrastructure investment plan, some have more questions about the specifics of it.

Perdue lauded Trump’s plan for 25 percent of “new” federal funds to be poured into rural infrastructure needs, as prioritized by state and local leaders. “No area of the country needs investment in infrastructure more than rural America,” Perdue said, in part.

“With a quarter of new federal money heading to rural parts of the country, states will have the ability to expand broadband access, increase connectivity, rebuild roads and supply affordable utilities. Importantly, states will have the flexibility to choose which projects will best meet their unique needs.”

The newly-created USDA Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity has identified infrastructure and broadband connectivity as key areas in which rural America must be improved, Perdue noted, adding that in his travels across rural communities, “the overwhelming view is that this is just the type of investment they are looking for to help create jobs, improve education, improve the quality of life and increase overall prosperity.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said the projected $50 billion that could be coming to the aid of rural American infrastructure as part of Trump’s “Building a Stronger America” plan “will help restore our deteriorating infrastructure and protect U.S. agriculture’s place as a world leader in production.”

Where past infrastructure plans have “left rural Americans in the dust,” he said “this administration has not forgotten the rural communities that form the backbone of our nation.”

Even the National Farmers Union, which had lambasted Trump’s budget proposal for its massive cuts to the EPA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Farm Service Agency and more, struck an even tone with its response on infrastructure funding.

“We are encouraged that the administration is acknowledging the need for significant investment in rural infrastructure. With over $3.6 trillion required to overcome decades of deferred maintenance, our nation’s roads, bridges, rails, locks, dams, water and waste system and rural broadband are in need of robust funding,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

“We look forward to working with Congress to maximize opportunities to improve rural America’s failing infrastructure.”

Also encouraged by the specifics of Trump’s infrastructure plan, though eager to hear more, is Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.

“We were never destined to reach the finish line unless we were willing to cross the starting line,” he said. “The release of the President’s broad contours and priorities hopefully crosses that starting line.”

Steenhoek said he was happy to hear the specific needs of rural America would be addressed by the federal government, but orchestrated by individual states under Trump’s plan. “These challenges are best confronted at the state and local level. The President appears to recognize this,” Steenhoek said, adding a caveat.

“We are still anxious to see greater specificity, particularly regarding funding, from the White House and Congress on an infrastructure strategy. Funding remains the main obstacle to seeing an infrastructure package transition from an intention to an outcome. The President’s infrastructure plan highlights the need to encourage greater degrees of investment from states and the private sector.

“While the plan clearly wants to stimulate future investment from non-federal sources, a question I have now is how the White House regards the additional investment that states have recently committed? Since 2013, 26 states and the District of Columbia have voted to increase their fuel taxes due, in part, to lackluster leadership from previous administrations on this topic. Many states have already shown leadership in this area. Will past actions or only future actions be rewarded by the federal government?” Steenhoek wondered.

Also chiming in on the principles of Trump’s budget proposal and how it relates to rural infrastructure needs was Anna Johnson, Center for Rural Affairs policy associate. “The President has proposed again to eliminate or shrink many programs that serve rural America, including those supporting rural businesses, cooperatives and housing,” she said.

“The President is also calling for an investment of $50 billion in rural infrastructure, but this could put the onus on states already struggling with the economic fallout of depressed commodity prices.”

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) called Trump a “builder” who “understands the importance of infrastructure to jobs and our economy” while welcoming those from across the political aisle to negotiations.

“There is a widespread desire to work together on this effort. Passage of an infrastructure bill will require presidential leadership and bipartisan Congressional cooperation,” he said. “I look forward to the constructive debate ahead of us on this critical issue. Our constituents elected us to address the nation’s problems, and we now have a golden opportunity to work together to do that.”

2/21/2018