Deputy Ag Secretary Meeting With SD Tribal Leaders

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says the U.S. Department of Agriculture needs to do more to try to help end the poverty for Native American people in South Dakota.

Merrigan made the comment Thursday after meeting with tribal leaders on the Lower Brule Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

She says the agency and tribal leaders need to focus on bringing more jobs to reservations in the state and providing nutritious foods.

Merrigan also toured the Lakota Foods facility. It's the first and only Native American business that produces, processes, packages and markets popcorn.

She says she was impressed with the facility and its focus on value-added food processing.