Friday Aug 21, 2009
Vilsack tours biomass facility, holds Rural Tour forum in Sedalia
Innovation was also the focus of the Secretary's visit the Show Me Energy Co-Op in Centerview, Missouri, just before his Rural Tour forum in Sedalia. The cooperative is a cellulosic biomass facility owned by 400 area farmers who process biomass materials and agricultural residue -- corn stalks, plant fibers, etc. -- into fiber fuel pellets.
It has even worked out an arrangement with the Federal Reserve in Kansas City to recycle retired money into pellets, as paper money is a completely cellulosic and soy based product. The pellets are then used by utility companies as a renewable fuel source.
That innovation has opened up new markets for farm products that until recently would have been discarded for having no value. But today, the new economy is alive and well in Centerview as this enterprise took a vision, some assistance from USDA's Rural Develoment and other supporters, and turned it into success story.
Following his tour of the biomass facility, Secretary Vilsack hosted a forum for area producers and citizens at State Fair Community College in Sedalia. There were lots of questions about climate change and renewable energy, international trade in agricultural products, the importance of forest management and timber to Missouri's economy, and the nation's food safety and inspection practices.
For his part, the Secretary outlined for the crowd the efforts by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service to keep the U.S. food supply safe; he also touched on producers being the vanguard for climate change efforts around the country, noting that farmers have always been very innovative and are looking at great new income opportunities in the 21st century. Vilsack also stressed we all have to work to inform more people of the link between farmers and food -- it benefits producers for the American public to understand the efforts put forward to get food from the farm to the fork.
This was another great Rural Tour forum packed with serious discussion on the problems facing the country; until the next forum (on Wednesday, August 26 in Modesto, California) be sure to catch up on the Rural Tour Twitter feed.
Permalink | Posted at: 04:51PM Aug 21, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA | Add Your Comment Here [0]
Tuesday Jul 07, 2009
Secretary Vilsack Visits 8th State on Rural Tour
Secretary Vilsack was genuinely moved by their stories, and announced his intention to create a Dairy Advisory Group to recommend changes to milk pricing for fairness for farmers, profitability, and stability.
The community forum was held at Carter Hill Orchards near Concord before a packed house where Secretary Vilsack was joined by Governor Lynch, Sen. Shaheen, Congresswoman Shea-Porter and Congressman Hodes. The main focus remained on the problems facing the dairy industry in New England and across the country.
When the floor was opened for questions, there was no hesitation from the crowd. Dairy and biomass issues dominated the discussion. The level of engagement of the farmers and community members who took the time out of their day to participate in the forum was impressive. It is easy to see that New Hampshire has a proud tradition of citizen involvement in government. Those who attended took the opportunity to speak with Secretary Vilsack, Governor Lynch and the Congressional delegation very seriously and made every effort to make the most of the forum.
After a short but highly envigorating day, Secretary Vilsack made a pitstop at the Common Man family restaurant that proudly features locally produced cheeses from area farmers. The establishment has a firm rule against cell phones and we were happy to obey the local ordinance.
Permalink | Posted at: 09:41AM Jul 07, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA | Add Your Comment Here [0]
