Grainnet

Rapid City, SD—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the more than 575 registered attendees at the National Farmers Union (NFU) annual convention in Rapid City, SD, March 15.

The Secretary’s address focused on the mounting issue of climate change and emphasized the role of ecosystem markets for water and carbon. Vilsack noted that scientific evidence continues to support theories regarding a changing climate.

“This was the hottest decade in history; the hottest century in 600,000 years.

"We’ve got an arctic cap that is melting,” said Vilsack. “It’s real …

"It will be, at some point, impacting and affecting the farm fields of this country.”

“If this (climate legislation) is done right, it will mean money in the pockets of farm families,” said Vilsack.

“It is important to set up an offset market that rewards American farmers for doing the right thing, whether they are raising crops or raising livestock.”

The Secretary also discussed other impacts and his commitment to rural America – the need for jobs creation; dairy farm policy reform; production efficiency; and the need to move from the dependency on foreign oil.

NFU nominated panelists for the USDA/Department of Justice workshops that recently started.

Vilsack emphasized the importance and success of the workshops thus far.

“We are trying to determine whether or not there needs to be greater regulation; better enforcement; a different set of rules; so that farmers of all sizes get a fair shake,” said Vilsack.

“We (USDA) are focused every single day on trying to make things better in rural America,” said Vilsack.

“I vowed that as long as I was in public life, I would do everything I could to create more opportunities for the good folks who live in rural America.”

For more information, call 202-554-1600.

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• NFU

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