U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified Tuesday at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on the state of the rural economy.
He discussed the urgency of passing a farm bill this year, as well as the impact of sequestration on the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Secretary Vilsack warned in a recent letter that automatic spending cuts could possibly result in a two-week closure of meat plants due to furlough of meat inspectors, as well as closing national forest campgrounds over the summer.
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) chairs the committee.