12/17/08 Smooth Transition

Smooth Transition. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Tom Dorr resigned as USDA Under Secretary of Rural Development effective December 1. He says the past two weeks have given him the opportunity to step back, catch his breath and reflect on what's been accomplished - but more importantly - on what lies down the road DORR: I think one thing that is important for anyone to be able to appreciate is this transition process and the way in which both the Obama and Bush Administrations have both gone after this is really rather remarkable. There's been some very effective briefings put together. Some good transition processes. Obviously we don't always all agree on everything but by-an-large it has been a very smooth transition at least from my vantage point what I was able to witness while I was still at USDA. Going forward - Dorr says there are still a number of challenges - but a number of opportunities as well. Dorr says the 2008 Farm Bill is a fairly dynamic device that begins to dramatically transition into specialty crops, more conservation and more risk management strategies. All of that bodes quite well for an expanding or strengthening economic model throughout rural areas because it acknowledges we're going to use more technology, increase productivity and that energy ultimately is going to be a major component of what we do in rural areas DORR: If that's the case, if that's where we go, then we have to begin looking at a number of the substantive policy issues that are going to impact how we are going to develop these rural renewable alternative energy sources in conjunction with the greenhouse gas issues and in conjunction with sustainable agricultural production practices and a whole array of issues. As far as changes to rural development policy are concerned - Dorr doesn't see broad changes occurring. DORR: The one thing I've learned in this position is regardless of what people say on the stump, these changes are gradual and generally the people who are implementing the changes are really pretty thoughtful. I think one of the biggest challenges we have in this country right now is to try to affect a more bipartisan tone to address both the challenges but in my view to capitalize on the opportunities we have. According to Dorr - everything he has seen so far suggests the Obama Administration has been pretty thoughtful in the people that they have chosen for Cabinet positions. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.