U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Discusses His Vision For USDA, Outlook For American Agriculture

Tom Vilsack

Washington, DC (March 5, 2021) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack shared his vision for the USDA and his outlook for American agriculture Friday during the Special Edition of Commodity Classic.

The Commodity Classic is taking place online this week due to restrictions from the pandemic.

The presentation was one of Vilsack’s first addresses to the nation’s farmers since being confirmed Feb. 23 to the same role he held in the Obama administration. Vilsack says was he was presented with the opportunity to return to the position and be secretary of agriculture during a difficult time with the industry facing challenges from commodity prices, the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other factors.

“It is a different time,” Vilsack says. “To a certain extent, I am a different person the second time coming into the role as agriculture secretary.”

COVID-19 Relief

Vilsack says the USDA is in the process of evaluating precisely what is needed throughout the agriculture industry in terms of COVID-19 relief assistance. He notes the process to complete the analysis is underway and expects further information could be shared within the next few weeks.

He adds the department wants to understand the full range of need and the resources that are available before a decision is made on how to allocate those resources.

Vilsack says his goal is to figure out who has not been helped or has been inadequately helped so that all the needs can be met in the most appropriate way.

“We want to make sure history says the people who needed help got help and nobody is left out,” Vilsack says. “Everybody in the supply chain is important.”

Vilsack says it will be important to set up a thoughtful, comprehensive direction for what comes next.

“I suspect it will be difficult to meet all the needs, but we’re going to try to be creative,” Vilsack says.

He adds it is important for essential workers to be protected, ensuring no disruption along the supply chain.

Developing More, New, and Fair Markets

Vilsack says the agriculture department will have several areas of focus as the new administration starts.

“We are dedicated to create better opportunities,” Vilsack says. “More, new, and fairer markets will benefit producers across the board.”

First, he says more markets are needed, meaning he would like for the department to have a greater presence in key markets around the world, while enforcing current trade agreements and seeking potential new trade agreements.

Second, in terms of new markets, Vilsack explains the focus should be on climate and opportunities to do right by the environment and right by climate by providing farmers with incentives for their work in those areas. He says the goal of zero emissions standards by 2050 is reachable by creating new opportunities to convert agriculture waste, which would lead to new revenue streams for farmers and create jobs in rural towns.

Third, Vilsack wants to address equity issues, saying discrimination has not been addressed over the past decades within the USDA. He says there should be greater equity for farmers. Vilsack says there is an opportunity to review USDA programs for systemic racism and he would like for full participation in programs.

“We think this is the right thing to do,” Vilsack says.

Fourth, Vilsack wants to rebuild the workforce at the USDA, filling vacancies throughout the agency. He says doing so is important so there are people “on the ground to do the work that is so important to all of you.”

Opportunities Ahead

As he serves as secretary of agriculture, Vilsack says his focus will be on creating opportunities for farm families.

“I know how deeply you all care about the land,” Vilsack says. “I’m going to commit all my energy to creating more opportunities.”

Vilsack was asked about developing the new Farm Bill, and he says the look at new, better, and fair markets will inform what the new Farm Bill should include. The current Farm Bill, enacted in 2018, is set to expire in 2023.

“We will use the next year or two to test market concepts, learn from our experience, and use what we learn to work with Congress to craft a Farm Bill,” Vilsack says.

With nearly 90% of farmers not making the majority of their money from farming and thus requiring off-farm income, Vilsack says that suggests “we need to a do a better job to ensure more people make the majority from what they want to and love to do.”

He adds, “We can’t say we have the system figured out. There is more we need to do.”

In addition, Vilsack says the country’s relationship with China is not where it needs to be.

“We have a lot of work on the trade agenda to be focused on,” Vilsack says.

He says the U.S. should diversify its market opportunities so it is not overly dependent on any one market. Vilsack adds the United States should look at other areas of the world and be aggressive in opening new market opportunities.

Written by Chris Lusvardi, Seed Today editor


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