USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told hundreds at the annual USDA Ag Outlook Forum  that farm risk extends beyond the weather to things people can control - like across-the-board budget cuts set to hit next week.

The conference theme this year is managing risk in the 21st Century. But Vilsack was concerned about a different kind of farming risk - man-made risk - starting with massive across-the-board spending cuts next Friday that could endanger key services like meat inspection - unless Congress acts…