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Sec. of Ag Petition for Sustainable Ag Focus

Ben H

Well-known member
Big Corn Wins Again
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
President-elect Barack Obama has selected former Iowa Governor, Tom Vilsack, as his Secretary of Agriculture. This ends the speculation that a "sustainable ag" candidate might get the nod and the appointment is a major coup for Big Corn and the ethanol industry. Vilsack is a staunch advocate of ethanol and other biofuels. One of the first major decisions for Vilsack will be whether to grant the ethanol industry’s requests for billions in federal aid as a part of the Obama administration’s economic stimulus package. Currently, gasoline is priced cheaper than ethanol and this is undermining public support for continued alternative fuel subsidies. Vilsack co-chaired a task force last year on climate change for The Council on Foreign Relations, which recommended the phasing out of subsidies for mature biofuels like ethanol. However, at the current price of oil continued subsidies will be necessary to keep the American ethanol industry afloat. The Obama Administration plans to make "green energy" a major part of its economic development program so don’t look for an end to ethanol subsidies anytime soon.
http://www.wincustomersusa.com/stockman/

It's on now, Pollan's pissed

Pollan Disappointed in Ag Choice
Thursday, 18 December 2008
The author of Omnivores Dilemma, Michael Pollan, described former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s appointment as Secretary of Agriculture as "a good day for corn. Less good for eaters." Pollan said he was particularly disappointed that neither Vilsack nor Obama used the words "food" or "eaters" in their press conference concerning the appointment. He said Vilsack does not have the record of a reformer and supported the expansion of confinement animal agriculture by gutting local control measures. Vilsack was also named "Biotech Governor of the Year" by the biotech industry but has supported local food systems. "The fact is, real change is never easy and always comes from below," Pollan said. "Now it’s up to us to push him, and Obama, in the right direction. This is just the beginning."
 

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