Vilsack Draws Lots of Praise Within Agriculture Agri-View: Capitol News

President-Elect Barack Obama’s choice of Tom Vilsack for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture drew lots of praise from U.S. agriculture. Vilsack served as Iowa’s governor until last year.

Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana, praised Vilsack, who formerly held that DGA head post. Schweitzer said Vilsack “worked to strengthen Iowa's economy and create high-paying jobs” and is “an authority on natural resources, and thoroughly experienced in agricultural issues.”

The Bush Administration’s USDA head Ed Schafer commented on Vilsack’s nomination for his own job. Ag Secretary Schafer expressed “confidence” in Vilsack’s “ability to effectively continue USDA’s success in expanding America’s agricultural economy.”

House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) called Vilsack “a strong advocate who understands the changing landscape of our nation's rural economy.”

Here in the Dairy State, Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Bill Bruins said “Wisconsin farmers should benefit from having a fellow Midwesterner, who understands the importance of the dairy industry to our economy.” “What excites us the most is that he (Vilsack) understands the vital importance that international trade and expansion of export markets has to farm incomes,” continued Bruins, who also noted Vilsack’s support for expanding renewable energy like ethanol, biodiesel and wind.

Bob Stallman, head of the American Farm Bureau, said Vilsack has demonstrated “experienced, steady judgment when it comes to working on agriculture-related issues.”

National Farmers Union President Tom Buis thinks Vilsack is “a great choice” and that his “rural vision is right on target.”

“Rural America is facing many challenges; the farm and rural economy has changed dramatically for the worse over the last few months as a result of the worldwide economic recession. The rules for the 2009 Farm Bill have not been finalized nor implemented. More people are seeking food assistance, and commodity prices have fallen dramatically while farmer input costs remain high,” Buis listed, indicating that Obama/Vilsack team will be up to the task.

The American Soybean Association applauded Vilsack’s nomination as the nation’s 30th Ag Secretary and the first Iowan chosen for that key cabinet post since Henry A. Wallace, a noted farm editor, named to the post back in 1933.

“As Governor, he was an early and strong advocate for renewable fuels, including soy biodiesel, as well as biotechnology, which is so important to modern agriculture,” said ASA Chairman John Hoffman, a soybean producer from Waterloo, Iowa. Hoffman and the leadership of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) worked closely with Vilsack during his eight years as chief executive of one of the nation’s leading farm states.

"Coming from an ag state that is No. 1 in soybeans, corn, pork, turkey and egg production, Tom Vilsack recognizes the importance of agriculture on the U.S. economy," Hoffman said. "I fully expect as secretary of agriculture he will be an excellent spokesperson for U.S. agriculture."

As Iowa governor, Vilsack co-founded the Governors Biotechnology Partnership, backed renewable fuels mandates and participated in missions with ISA leaders promoting exports of Iowa ag products. Hoffman said Vilsack was especially supportive of bringing young and beginning farmers into production agriculture.

The National Corn Growers Association points out that during his eight years as Iowa governor, Vilsack chaired the Governors Ethanol Coalition and the National Governors Association’s Natural Resources Committee, which handles agriculture and energy policies.

NCGA Chairman Ron Litterer, a farmer from Greene, Iowa, agreed that Vilsack has “deep knowledge of issues ranging from ethanol to conservation” and “understands the opportunities and challenges facing the corn industry today.”

Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, pointed out that Vilsack “clearly has the managerial skills necessary to run a large, complex agency like the Department of Agriculture.” He thinks the proposed Democratic ag secretary is experienced in “balancing competing needs in the areas of farm program payments, environmental regulations, renewable fuels mandates, trade policy and more.” NMPF’s 31 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 40,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

U.S. Senator tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Ag Committee n the committee that will hold nomination hearings n said Vilsack “knows how to bring change that will rebuild rural economies and keep them vibrant. As someone who has been a supporter of Tom Vilsack from the time he ran for governor to the time he ran for President, I believe he will be a strong secretary of agriculture and I expect a swift confirmation by the Senate Agriculture Committee."

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Bryan Black, Canal Winchester, Ohio, also congratulated Vilsack, stating he “knows production agriculture and the pork industry.”

Ken Hobbie, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, is “confident” Vilsack “will consider a liberalized trade environment a top priority.” He called on the new Obama administration to approve pending free trade agreements “as soon as possible.”

Audubon, a leading environmental organization, also applauded Obama’s pick to lead agriculture. President John Flicker, said Vilsack “has a strong record of working to meet our nation's need for food and protecting the environment. He has also shown vision in supporting conservation of important habitat and transitioning our nation to cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy that will reduce climate change.”

“Together with the other members of the President-elect’s energy and environment team and a more environmentally aware Congress, the stage is set for fundamental change to protect America's great natural heritage,” said Flicker.

Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), pointed out that Vilsack is a past recipient of BIO's Governor of the Year award for his support of the industry's economic growth and agricultural biotechnology research. As governor, he helped charter BIOWA - a group designed to foster the deployment of advanced biorefineries and supporting facilities and to create green jobs…He also knows the importance helping to build biobased business models that use biomass as a feedstock to make green plastics and renewable chemical platforms.”

American Farmland Trust is a national organization working with communities and individuals to protect land and plan for agriculture (mailto:www.farmland.org). Jon Scholl, president of AFT, thinks “Vilsack's skills will be put to the test in trying to implement the farm bill amidst a global economic crisis...” He called Vilsack “a pragmatist” who “recognizes the importance of caring for natural resources."

Obama himself promised Vilsack will be protective of family farms and that he understands that the solution to this country’s energy crunch is in farm fields not oil fields. Although Vilsack has never farmed, he contended his former job as small-town lawyer gave him a keen understanding of producers and that he respects them for their contribution to society, namely putting food on tables.

The National Farmers Organization says it thinks Vilsack as ag secretary would be positive for farmers. NFO is concerned about unimplemented farm subsidies, and the need for farm bill benefits directed toward producers who provide hands-on labor and management on their farms. Vilsack is known for supporting caps on payments to large farms. NFO leadership believes Vilsack’s experience as former governor of a major farm state will allow him to hit the ground running in the new administration.

National Farmers is a group marketing and bargaining organization for the nation’s farmers, including dairy producers.