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Tom Vilsack: Obama’s new Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets policy regarding the vast majority of animals facing cruelty and exploitation—those raised and slaughtered for food. The leader of that department is in a position to make significant impacts on the lives of farm animals and to advance more humane agricultural polices nationwide. On December 17, President-elect Barack Obama announced his nomination of Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, one of the top factory farming states, as his choice to lead the USDA.
Farm Sanctuary is concerned about this appointment, but we are hopeful that we may see change during this administration that will benefit animals, the environment and rural communities. Vilsack has an uneven track record when it comes to farm animals and fighting factory farming. He has supported some animal protection measures and has at times stood up to Big Ag, yet he has also taken actions that are not in the best interest of farm animals or rural communities. During his tenure as governor of Iowa, the state saw a proliferation of massive hog farms, and Farm Sanctuary saw these hog farms first-hand this summer while rescuing pigs from the flooding in southeastern Iowa. How he will shape the USDA in support of Obama’s mantra of change is something Farm Sanctuary will be watching closely.
Given the wide mandate of the Department of Agriculture and the Obama-Biden platform on food and the environment, the opportunity to do right by farm animals is immense. Vilsack is now in a prime position to restrict the negative impacts of factory farms, a significant contributor to global warming, as he will play a strong role in implementing the Obama administration’s vision on energy and climate change. Furthermore, by capping subsidies to large and corporate farmers—a measure supported by both Vilsack and Obama, he can curtail the USDA’s history of propping up the meat and dairy industries at the taxpayer’s expense. Food security, particularly given the current economy, is another of the new secretary’s priorities that can benefit from increased federal support for sustainable, plant-based agriculture.
Farm Sanctuary is concerned about Vilsack’s past support of inhumane systems aimed at increasing the productivity of animals raised for food. President-elect Obama and the public at large are very supportive of organic and sustainable foods, and it is our hope that this will direct our national policy. But it’s critical for concerned citizens to weigh in. This is not a time for us to be complacent, but a time to remind Vilsack that the USDA was founded as the people’s department not the factory farmers’ agency.
You can read more on this topic on Gene Baur's Bloggings. Stay informed of opportunities for taking further action with Vilsack and the Obama administration on specific issues affecting farm animals by signing up for Farm Sanctuary’s e-mail alerts.
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