12/18/08 New Ag Secretary Nominee & Reaction

New Ag Secretary Nominee & Reaction plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. President-elect Barack Obama announced yesterday that he has picked former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to run the USDA. OBAMA: As Governor of one of our most abundant farm states, he led with vision promoting biotech to strengthen our farmers and fostering an agricultural economy of the future that not only grows the food we eat but the energy we use. Tom understands that the solution to our energy crisis will be found not in oil fields abroad but in our farm fields here at home. That's the kind of leader I want in my Cabinet. Current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer commended Obama's nomination citing the former governor's experience in agricultural issues and expressing confidence in Vilsack's ability to effectively continue USDA's success in expanding America's agricultural economy. Schafer said quote: "USDA plays an integral role in supporting our agricultural economy and working on behalf of America's farmers and ranchers. I am confident that Tom Vilsack's background and experience will help him continue the progress we have made here." Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. President elect Obama's choice for Ag secretary, former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, shows great promise for America's farmers who have been facing numerous obstacles in the agricultural industry. Not the least of which would be the huge challenge he faces of putting into practice a politically popular yet highly criticized farm bill. He will also have the hurdle of putting out fires over trade, food safety and animal welfare. Vilsack will have the opportunity to put his first hand knowledge of agriculture to work helping farmers and ranchers improve their profitability and opportunity in the ever challenging and volatile ag industry. Most farmers across the nation seem to be pleased with the choice of Vilsack, and feel he will be an avid spokesperson for agriculture. Obama and his advisors seem to have taken a large step in the right direction to help American agriculture move into a brighter and better future. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.