Pride and Diversity in New Mexico Farming

Yesterday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack continued President Obama’s Rural Tour with his 21st stop in New Mexico. This stop while similar to the previous stops stood out in two key areas. In a morning meeting with the Latino farmers in the town of Mesilla, N.M. the Secretary heard first hand the importance of addressing the wrongs of the past in regards to the USDA and civil rights issues. And to this, the Secretary responded that he is ready to take on the responsibility of closing that chapter in our history and creating new opportunities for American farmers and ranchers of all backgrounds and cultures.

But the day was also notable because of the hard work and pride of the farming and ranching community of rural New Mexico. You see, unlike many states and parts of the country, the agriculture sector in New Mexico is growing. Five years ago, there were approximately 15,000 farms in New Mexico. Today, there are over 20,000 farms and the number is growing. Pistachios, grapes, dairy, avocados, and grains are just a sampling of the agriculture products coming out of the state. The agriculture sector today accounts for $2.1 billion in the state economy, also up from five years ago.

As Sharon Lombardi, Executive Director of the Dairy Producers of New Mexico made clear, times are tough and the challenges are numerous, but here in New Mexico they are determined to move forward. They are determined to preserve the rural communities that are the heart and soul of the nation. They are determined to make it work. And here at the USDA, we are determined to stand beside them and do what we can to help them achieve those goals.

Permalink  |  Posted at: 12:17PM Oct 01, 2009 by USDAblogger in USDA  |  Add Your Comment Here [0]

Secretary Vilsack Visits 8th State on Rural Tour

For the latest Rural Tour stop, Secretary Vilsack went north to New Hampshire where citizens firmly believe in their state motto “Live Free or Die.” After landing in Manchester, Secretary Vilsack met with dairy farmers at a farm near Contoocook to discuss the financial crisis they face and concerns that multi-generational family farms would soon be going out of business in large numbers if they did not receive assistance.

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]