Perdue: USDA May Have To Be ‘Selective’ On Farm Programs Not In Baseline

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue indicated the department's hands may be tied in keeping some agricultural programs afloat without baseline funding in the absence of a farm bill.With the expiration of the 2014 Farm Bill, some 39 orphan programs lack mandatory funding.Perdue said that USDA may have to make some choices as to which programs it will direct temporary funding toward so that they can keep their doors open. "We’re going to do everything we can for all the programs under the ‘14 farm bill to keep them manageable for what we’re legally allowed to do," Perdue told reporters, after delivering a speech at a conference hosted by the North American Meat Institute."We’re going to be as selective as we can in maintaining the status quo of the ‘14 Farm Bill if we’re legally permitted to do so," he continued. "If we’re precluded from spending money on those programs we obviously cannot do that. But we’re going to be as flexible as we can."