Opposition to Vilsack nomination as ag secretary grows: “agribusiness as usual”

In Iowa, opposition to the nomination of Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary continues to swirl, as other observers speculate over the nature of an Obama agriculture policy. According to the Des Moines Register, Vilsack will focus on implementation of the farm bill, biofuel development and the sugar program, while balancing the interests of the South, West and Midwest.

Meanwhile, TIME reports on unhappy organic farmers and environmentalists, concerned over Vilsack’s consistent support of feedlot agriculture. “It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that this is agribusiness as usual,” said author Michael Pollan on National Public Radio. “That said, there are reasons to be cautiously hopeful. Vilsack’s spoken encouragingly about capping subsidies and using that money to drive a conservation agenda…On the other hand, he presided over the biggest expansion of feedlot agriculture in Iowa,” Pollan added.

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