U.S. Ag Secretary says direct commodity payments will end - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the days of government payments to grow corn and soybeans are numbered due to record farm income and budget constraints.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Vilsack says direct commodity payments will be axed when Congress approves the next farm bill.

The former Iowa governor and other White House officials are at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo on Thursday to talk about the Obama administration's efforts to spur economic development. The focus is on improving rural economies by training and retraining workers for in-demand jobs.

Vilsack is optimistic lawmakers will come up with a plan to provide a safety net for farmers, protect the environment and continue to provide food assistance to those in need.

The current farm bill expires in September.