The nation’s top agricultural leader saw Vermont agriculture shine on a cold but sparking day in March. United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue traveled to Milton to see firsthand how Vermont makes maple. The Secretary was the guest of the Georgia Mountain Maples. The former Georgia Governor joined Governor Phil Scott and former Governor Jim Douglas in the annual tree tapping ceremony.
Maple was just part of the Secretary’s visit. He mingled with dairy farmers, ate pancakes with students from Milton, held a press conference with the Vermont media, chatted with leaders of the Vermont Farm Bureau and also met with other members of the Governor’s cabinet on important issues to Vermont.
The Secretary encouraged dairy farmers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage through the Farm Services Agency or FSA. This is the old Margin Protection Program but under the new farm bill big changes were made aimed at helping more dairy farmers. Secretary Perdue believes farmers could see real value in this program as farmers try to manage their finances.
The Secretary also fielded questions about trade, hemp, conservation and broadband. This was a real important day for Vermont agricultural because it gave Vermont farmers the opportunity to tell their story to one of the nation’s top policymakers. Farmers told him of their needs in a challenging time for those making their living off the land. Their stories were real and raw and no doubt left an impression with Secretary Perdue as he traveled back to Washington. We thank him for visiting, learning and listening to our farmers. We will invite him back to see more.
Secretary Anson Tebbetts