Article appeared in print on January 14, 2009, New York Times

Agriculture Pick's Hearing Is Smooth
By ANDREW MARTIN

Former Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa said that if he is confirmed as
President-elect Barack Obama's agriculture secretary, he would
aggressively pursue new fuel sources to produce ethanol, promote
locally grown fruits and vegetables and look for other ways to
increase farmers' incomes, in areas like wind power and organic
farming.

"I will work with you to expand opportunities for farmers, ranchers
and rural communities to promote renewable energy technologies." TOM
VILSACK

But while Mr. Vilsack acknowledged the current struggles of the
corn-based ethanol industry — with Iowa at the center — he stopped
short of endorsing new federal initiatives to give it a boost.

Mr. Vilsack also said any research promoting new types of biofuels
needed to benefit more than just the Corn Belt.

If the members of the Senate agriculture committee were surprised or
disappointed by Mr. Vilsack's answers, they did not show it. Mr.
Vilsack sailed through the confirmation hearing with nary a word of
criticism, and Chairman Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa, said he expected
Mr. Vilsack to be confirmed unanimously Tuesday.

If confirmed, Mr. Vilsack, who briefly ran for president in 2008,
would inherit a huge bureaucracy that oversees not just farm programs
but also nutrition initiatives like school lunch and food stamps, meat
and poultry inspections and the forest service.

His confirmation hearing comes as the farm economy is struggling after
years of soaring prices fed by growing demand for exports and ethanol.
And demand for federal nutrition programs is increasing as the
recession deepens.

A lawyer who represented farmers during the farm crisis in the 1980s,
Mr. Vilsack promised to carry out the provisions of the 2008 Farm
Bill, which includes billions in subsidies for some farmers.

He also vowed to modernize food safety and promote more nutrition in
diets. As such, he said he would "work with those who seek programs
and practices that lead to more nutritious food produced in a
sustainable way."

The prospect of an Iowan running the Agriculture Department at the
same time that Mr. Harkin leads the agriculture committee has elicited
some concern that other parts of the country would be ignored. The
Midwest and the South have vied for power in Congressional agriculture
committees.

Mr. Vilsack assured him and others that he would serve the entire
nation, not just Iowa.

A longtime supporter of renewable fuels, Mr. Vilsack said, "I will
work with you to expand opportunities for farmers, ranchers and rural
communities to promote renewable energy technologies like biofuels,
wind, solar and geothermal, and to deliver environmental benefits like
clean air, clean water, and fish and wildlife habitat."

--
Dr. Teri Hamlin
North Region Agriculture Education
Georgia Department of Education
204C Four Towers University of Georgia
Athens, Ga 30602
706-542-3679 / 706-540-0032
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