Food and Agriculture Policy

Secretary Veneman described the Department of Agriculture as one of the largest in the federal government with 110,000 employees, and a $113 billion budget. Topics included agriculture research, the Forest Service, foreign food aid, and the 60 percent of the USDA budget that goes to nutrition and food assistance programs in the U.S. She also talked about genomics research, global trade access, the World Trade Organization, and food supply security from terrorists. After her remarks she answered audience members' questions.