USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack offered words of support for the ethanol industry and inspirational comments for the agriculture industry during his keynote address held Feb. 26 at the department’s Agricultural Outlook Forum 2009.
Vilsack reported that U.S. President Obama has instructed him that the USDA will expand energy opportunities and assist U.S. producers to create more forms of alternative energy and fuel. “If we're to meet the president's instruction that he wants more energy production out of our farm fields and ranches, and if we are going to turn this economy around and become less reliant on fossil fuels, we've got to create more biofuel,” he said.
As a former Iowa governor, Vilsack has not shied away from speaking out in favor of corn-based ethanol and it appears that his new role as agriculture secretary will not damper that position. During his address, Vilsack voiced concern over the industry’s current “stressed” state. “[The] USDA has a responsibility of keeping an eye on that industry and providing assistance and help, particularly to struggling processing facilities, so that we maintain the infrastructure that can then take advantage of the second- and third-generation biofuels that are being developed right now with the help of USDA and the Department of Energy,” he said.
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Vilsack stated that the agency plans to accelerate implementation of Farm Bill programs pertaining to new feedstocks. These programs include the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, established to support development and production of biomass feedstock crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus; and the Biorefinery Assistance Program, which authorized grants for the development and construction of demonstration-scale biorefineries to convert biomass to fuel.
Of particular importance, said Vilsack, is that the agriculture industry use its voice to influence new policy. Farmers and ranchers are by nature humble people who focus more on just getting the work done rather than talking about it. That needs to change, according to Vilsack. “As the Congress begins a discussion, a debate, about energy policy and climate change, agriculture has to be there, has to be engaged,” he said. “We have to lead this conversation because we have a tremendous opportunity here, a tremendous opportunity. If we seize it.”
