12/18/08 Vilsack named Ag Secretary

Barack Obama has tabbed a one-time primary election opponent in former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to be his Secretary of Agriculture. Obama says that Vilsack is "fiercely protective of family farms and the farm economy." OBAMA "He's also been forward looking in thinking about how we can move toward cellulosic ethanol. How can we harness wild and solar power to give a boost to our rural economies?" Vilsack says he looks forward to the challenge of carrying out the President-elect's vision for USDA; a vision he says has to improve profitability for farmers and ranchers and expand opportunities in the rural communities in which they live. VILSACK "It must aggressively promote policies and programs that support sustainable practices to conserve and preserve our precious natural resources, our land, our water and our forests. It must be innovative and creative in all its work." Vilsack says farmers and ranchers deserve an Ag Secretary who respects them for the contribution they make to all Americans everyday, and he hopes to be that secretary. Obama also picked Colorado Senator Ken Salazar to succeed Dirk Kempthorne as the next Secretary of the Interior. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott