I am concerned about the names floated by the Washington Post as prospective Agriculture Secretary: Stenholm's record is abysmal. Lobbyist for Big Ag, opposed the Food Quality Protection Act, tried to defeat ban on processing down cows for food.
Dennis Wolff tried to ban rbGH Free labels on dairy products--doing Monsanto's bidding. He tried to keep local governments in PA from regulating CAFOs in their area
to mitigate public health threats
John Salazar is a Blue Dog Democrat who sits on the House Agriculture Committee
and has managed to forestall progressive legislation,
Governor Sibelius, while from and agricultural state, is inexperienced. Maybe she is
OK, but there are many better choices.
The NY Times reported today on a letter from nearly 90 notables in the fields of sustainable agriculture listing six top picks for Secy of Agriculture who embrace the
connection between food, health and the environment. The six are:
Gus Schumacher, former Under-Secy of Ag. for Farm and Foreign Ag. Services
Chuck Hassebrook, Executive Sec'y for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Neb
Sarah Vogel, former Commissioner of Ag. for North Dakota
Fred Kirshenann, organic farmer, distinguished fellow at Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ames, Iowa
Mark Ritchie, Minn. Sec'y of State, former policy analyst in Minn. Dept. of Agriculture
Neil Hamilton, Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law & Director of the Agricultural Law
Center, Drake University, Des Moines, IA
The selection of any of the above six would insure that President-Elect Obama's
clearly stated aims for Agriculture, as expressed in his campaign, could be attained.
Since food is now a National Security issue and vital to our economy, it is mandatory
that enlightened policies be instituted--naming one of these would insure it.