Sequestration = Possible Meat Inspector Cuts
Northern Ag Network posted on February 11, 2013 09:23 :: 104 Views
by Jerry Hagstrom, DTN Political Correspondent
LAS VEGAS (DTN) -- Across-the-board federal budget cuts could force USDA to furlough up to 6,000 meat inspectors for up to two weeks, plunging the meat industry into chaos and raising consumer prices, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a speech to the National Biodiesel Board Thursday.
In wide-ranging comments after his speech on the sequestration and the prospects for a new farm bill, Vilsack said the sequestration -- an across-the-board cut in government spending set to go into effect on March 1 if Congress does not change it -- would require USDA's Food and Safety and Inspection Service to "furlough over 6,000 food inspectors for two to three weeks."
"As soon as you take an inspector off the floor, that plant shuts down," Vilsack added, noting that removing inspectors even for a short period would affect several hundred thousand workers and would affect the supply of meat and eventually consumer prices.
A USDA spokeswoman said there are about 6,500 federal meat inspectors.
The sequestration, Vilsack said, "is horrible policy," adding that the potential problem at FSIS "is just a tiny piece of my life."
"It is really hard to manage the department," Vilsack said, adding that sequestration will require that the cut be made in six months, which means it is essentially double the percentage required.
