Partnerships In To Keep Farming Safe, Productive

Farm security is national security.

You’ve most likely heard that from someone in the farming community over the past couple of years.  That’s not just a local idea.  USDA's National Farm Security Action Plan involves interagency partners on the federal, state, and local levels to protect our nation's ag sector. 

“Across the federal community, we have different perspectives, different interests, and different stakeholders," said USDA Office of Homeland Security Director Matt Allen.  "But we all share the belief that protecting U.S. agriculture protects the United States from its adversaries.”

Allen noted USDA collaborates with agencies such as the Treasury and War Departments in protecting threats to all areas of Ag from farmland to biotech.

“Agriculture is highly technical and sophisticated perfectly measured and adapted to maximize productivity,” he said.

Which, Allen said, is why those partnerships are so important, to share information regarding security vulnerabilities and develop novel technical solutions and innovations to farm-based challenges.

Click Here to learn more about USDA's Office of Homeland Security.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com