Wednesday Sep 23, 2009
Secretary Vilsack on the El Reno Rural Tour Stop
I heard about the crushing cost of health care, concerns about schools, our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and climate change. The thoughts, ideas and concerns for the future I heard in El Reno were a reminder of the strength and optimism I have seen in communities throughout rural America.
What I didn’t hear in El Reno was an unwillingness to take on the challenges that face our nation, or doubt in the American spirit of innovation, progress and determination that has consistently propelled our country to greatness. Every Oklahoman I spoke with expressed a hope and optimism that we can build a stronger America as long as we reject the nay-saying that has become the status quo.
Simply put, the people I met said they are ready to embrace President Obama’s belief that the strength of our nation depends on a healthy and prosperous rural America. I met family farmers from Loyal, already benefiting from the increased income opportunities of sustainable farm practices. They were excited about the possibility that energy and climate change legislation will reward farmers, create a clean energy economy and reduce the threat of climate change.
I heard from individuals who were thankful for President Obama’s stimulus package that invested in critical infrastructure, stimulated local economies, created jobs and provided tax relief for 95 percent of America’s families. They are excited about our investments in broadband technology. And they are looking for health insurance reform that will provide security and stability for their families. It is clear that Oklahoma is ready to challenge the idea that we cannot change and is committed to moving the state forward.
Nowhere was this more evident than in questions and comments from the members of 4-H and FFA, youth educational programs. These youngsters represent part of Oklahoma’s future. I am confident that their passion and determination will help rebuild and revitalize your communities.
We’ve already begun by investing in our communities — education and nutrition, rural development and broadband, conservation and clean energy — with the Recovery Act. We must help rural communities create wealth so they are self-sustaining, repopulating and thriving economically. It means building a rural America with the opportunities that convince the young people I met that the small communities they grew up in are still the best place in the country to raise a family.
To accomplish these goals, we need your ingenuity, your innovation and most of all your involvement. That’s how change happens — because Americans from every corner of this country stand up and face the future unafraid. And if we summon that spirit now, I’m confident we’ll look back at this moment and know that we left our children an America even more vibrant and prosperous than the America we inherited from our parents.
Secretary Vilsack's commentary originally published in the Oklahoman
Permalink | Posted at: 10:52AM Sep 23, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA | Add Your Comment Here [0]
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]
Saturday Jul 18, 2009
Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Chu discuss green jobs in Virginia
This morning, Chu and Vilsack toured the Piedmont BioProducts plant in Danville, and discussed the refinery's cooperation with universities around the country to develop the work Piedmont is doing.
After a cheeseburger, the Secretaries headed to Buddy Mayhew's farm near Chatham, where this afternoon's Rural Tour event drew about 300 people interested in the Obama Administration's plans to create green jobs for rural communities across our nation. Plenty of questions, which has been the case at every stop on the tour and gives the Secretary a great platform to discuss the many ways USDA is touching people in states like Virginia every day, every way.
Vilsack later met with local biofuel manufacturers and local USDA employees. (USDA, in case you're wondering, isn't just in Washington -- a huge part of the revitalization and recovery effort is being led by thousands of USDA employees at the county and state levels, as well as by Foreign Agriculture Service officers posted around the world).
Stay tuned for some photos of this long, but very productive and educational, day. Meanwhile, USDA staff on the road with the Secretary are still Tweeting away as the afternoon goes on.
Permalink | Posted at: 03:11PM Jul 18, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA | Add Your Comment Here [0]
Thursday Jul 02, 2009
Pennsylvania a Successful Kickoff to the Tour
We started off the day on Air Force Two, travelling with Vice President Biden and Secretary of Commerce Locke to Wattsburg, PA, to kick off President Obama's Rural Tour. As part of the tour, we made a major announcement about USDA and the Department of Commerce providing Recovery Act funds for broadband in unserved and underserved communities.There were about 500 people at the event. Vice President Biden spoke passionately about the Obama-Biden Administration's commitment to helping rural America succeed - their efforts in the short time they have been in office have been immediate, comprehensive and bold.
Not only have they provided considerable resources and assistance to rural communities, their commitment to developing alternative energy sources, improving critical infrastructure and making broadband accessible to rural areas is significant.
After taking questions from the audience - most people were interested in the application process and the criteria for funding - the Vice President departed and we began our drive to Pittsburgh. En route, we stopped at Hank's Frozen Custard and a John Deere store to talk with more residents of the area. Afterwards we met with a group of dairy farmers to talk about important issues for their industry.
Many dairy farmers are struggling. I wanted to hear from them how we could be helpful and also, explain to them what we have done already to help the industry. In the last few months we have taken action to support these producers by providing Milk Income Loss Contract payments, donating surplus products to food banks and other feeding programs, and utilizing the Dairy Export Incentive Program to promote dairy exports. I stressed that we will continue to monitor the situation and work to support this important industry.
We finished up the night at the Pirates game where I was able to do Pittsburgh Radio Network for a few innings and share with listeners in my home town the many ways USDA impacts the lives of every American every day. Throwing out the first pitch was a lot of fun and it was great to be at the stadium on such a nice night.
All in all, the first stop of the Rural Tour was a success. I am continually inspired by the spirit and resolve of Americans and am looking forward to upcoming events.
Permalink | Posted at: 04:00PM Jul 02, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA | Add Your Comment Here [2]
