(APPLAUSE)
GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE 160TH LANDON LECTURE ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS
THE LANDON LECTURES BEGAN IN 1996 BY THE LATE GOVERNOR ALF LANDON AND THE LATE K-STATE PRESIDENT JAMES MCCAIN.
THE GOAL OF THE LANDON LECTURES IS TO BRING THE MOST PROMINENT PUBLIC FIGURES TO KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO DISCUSS THE PRESSING ISSUES OF THE DAY.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TODAY TO WELCOME SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, TOM VILSACK, TO THE LANDON PODIUM TO JOIN 159 PREDECESSORS IN BRINGING THEIR THOUGHTS
AND OPINIONS ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC ISSUES.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SEVERAL KEY DIGNITARIES WITH US IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY
AND I ASK THAT THEY PLEASE STAND AND PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL I RECOGNIZE ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS.
U.S. SENATOR PAT ROBERTS IS HERE WITH HIS WIFE FRANKIE.
CONGRESSWOMAN LYNN JENKINS, DALE RODMAN, KANSAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE,
STATE REPRESENTATIVES, TOM PHILLIPS, SYDNEY CARLEN, AND SHARON SHWARTZ
AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS, PRESIDENT CEO OF THE REGENTS, ANDY TOMPKINS AND REGENT MILLARD EDWARDS
FOLKS THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
(APPLAUSE)
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL KEY MEMBERS OF THE KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP TEAM
THAT REALLY PLAY A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES WORK IN MAKING THESE LECTURES SO SUCCESSFUL.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, ONCE AGAIN PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, DR. JACKIE HEARTMAN, CHAIR PERSON OF THE LANDON LECTURE SERIES
AND CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT, DR. TOM VONCE, PRESIDENT OF THE FACILITY SENATE AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION
LISA REEVES, PRESIDENT OF THE CLASSIFIED SENATE AND NATES BRIGGS, KSTATE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AND SENIOR IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR SUPPORT.
(APPLAUSE)
TOM VILSACK WAS APPOINTED AS THE NATIONS 30TH SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE IN JANUARY OF 2009.
AS THE LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SECRETARY VILSACK IS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN THE
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY, BUILD VIBRANT RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND SECURE A STRONGER FUTURE FOR THE AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS.
UNDER SECRETARYS LEADERSHIP THE USDA IS PROMOTING AMERICAN AGRICULTURE BY CONDUCTING CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH,
IMPROVING MARKETS AT HOME AND ABROAD. USDA ALSO WORKS IN INSURING AN APPROPRIATE SAFETY NET
FOR AMERICAS FARMERS AND RANCHERS, ENABLING THEM TO PROSPER EVEN IN ROUGH TIMES.
TODAY AGRICULTURE IS A BRIGHT SPOT IN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY WITH RECORD SETTING FARM SECTOR EARNINGS
AND RECORD AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS WORTH 137 BILLION IN 2011
THESE DOLLARS HELP SUPPORT MORE THAN ONE MILLION AMERICAN JOBS.
SECRETARY VILSACK IS PARTNERED WITH FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA'S 'LETS MOVE' INITIATIVE
TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF AMERICAS' CHILDREN.
HE HELPED PASS THE HEALTHY HUNGER FREE KIDS ACT TO HELP COMBAT CHILD HUNGER AND OBESITY
BY MAKING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SCHOOL LUNCHES IN 30 YEARS.
HE HAS LED A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN FOOD SUPPLY
IMPLEMENTING CHANGES TO FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS, TO PREVENT ILLNESSES, BY REDUCING THE PREVALENCE OF ECOIL, SALMONELLA,
CAMPYLA BACTER IN OUR MEAT AND POULTRY.
PRIER TO HIS APPOINTMENT SECRETARY VILSACK SERVED AS THE 40TH GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
HE WAS FIRST ELECTED IN 1998 AND REELECTED TO A SECOND 4 YEAR TERM IN 2002.
SECRETARY VILSACK ALSO SERVED IN THE IOWA STATE SENATE IN 1992
AS THE MAJOR IN MOUNT PLESANT IOWA IN 1987. SECRETARY VILSACK WAS BORN IN PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
AND ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AT SHADY SIDE ACADEMY IN PITTSBURG.
HE RECIEVED A BACHELORS DEGREE IN 1972 FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE IN NEW YORK
AND HE RECIEVED HIS LAW DEGREE IN 1975 FROM ALBANY LAW SCHOOL.
PLEASE GIVE A WARM KANSAS STATE WELCOME TO SECRETARY TOM VILSACK.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
PLEASE, PLEASE THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOLKS.
IT'S ALWAYS TOUGH WHEN SOMEONE STANDS UP AND GIVES YOU A NICE WARM WELCOME LIKE
THAT YOUR FIRST REACTION IS TO WALK OFF STAGE.
(LAUGHTER)
AND QUIT WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD.
PRESIDENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE KIND REMARKS AND I REALLY DO FEEL HONORED AND PRIVILEDGED TO BE HERE TODAY.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FOLKS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE A NICE JOB ACKNOWLEDGING SOME
OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE, BUT I'D LIKE TO, IF I MIGHT, JUST SAY A SPECIAL WORD ABOUT
I THINK, IT'S FAIR TO SAY, I CAN CALL MY FRIEND PAT ROBERTS, YOU KNOW SENATOR ROBERTS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS UNIVERSITY
AND THE WORK OF THIS UNIVERSITY. AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS UNIVERSITY HAS TO DO TRULY GREAT THINGS FOR THE NATION.
HE IS CONCERNED AS I AM ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND HE RECOGNIZES PERHAPS BETTER
THEN JUST ABOUT ANYBODY IN CONGRESS, THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A CONCERN AND A THREAT TO OUR FOOD SUPPLY.
AND THAT WE NEED ADEQUATE AND MODERN FACILITIES TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE AND ABUNDANT FOOD SUPPLY.
HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND HE IS VERY PROUD OF HIS HERITAGE AND PROUD OF HIS STATE
AND VERY PROUD OF HIS COUNTRY AND HE IS ALSO EXTRAORDINARILY PROUD OF HIS MILITARY SERVICE
HE IS A GOOD MAN AND HE IS A MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT HE WAS SENT TO CONGRESS
AND TO THE SENATE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO TRY AND SOLVE THE NATIONS PROBLEMS
CANDIDLY, I WISH WE HAD 100 LIKE HIM, AND 435 LIKE HIM IN THE HOUSE AND I THINK IF WE DID
WE'D BE MAKING A LITTLE MORE PROGRESS THAN WE'VE BEEN MAKING, AND SO SENATOR I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY AND I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
(APPLAUSE)
I THINK A COMMAND PREFORMANCE FOR ADRIAN PELANSKY AS OUR FSA STATE DIRECTOR, ERIC BANKS WHO WORKS FOR NRCS STATE CONSERVATIONIST
AND PATRICIA CLARK WHO IS OUR RURAL DEVELOPEMENT STATE DIRECTOR, THEY HAD TO BE HERE TODAY, I THINK. NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE.
OR IF THEY COULD STAND AND JUST BE RECOGNIZED, THERE THEY ARE OUR STATE FOLKS.
(APPLAUSE)
WELL THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR ME, I TOLD MY WIFE THAT I HAD BEEN HONORED WITH THIS DISTINCTION
AND I WENT ON THE WEB AND TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN THIS LECTURE BEFORE, AND I MUST SAY,
IT'S A BIT INTIMIDATING TO BE ON THE SAME STAGE AND IN THE SAME AUDITORIUM AS FORMER PRESIDENTS AND FORMER NOBLE PRIZE WINNERS
HAVE BEEN TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.
BUT SHE SORT OF BROUGHT ME DOWN TO EARTH AS SHE NORMALLY DOES,
WHEN SHE SAID, ALF LANDON, SHE SAID, YOU KNOW MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY GRANDFATHER WE WERE A DIVIDED POLITICAL PARTY
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A REPUBLICAN AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS A DEMOCRAT.
AND GRANDMOTHER WAS QUITE ENTHUSED ABOUT ALF LANDON
AND KEPT TALKING ABOUT ALF LANDON AND KEPT TURNING ON THE RADIO TO HEAR ALF LANDON SPEAK.
AT ONE POINT MY GRAND--KRISTY'S GRANDFATHER, GOT SO MAD THAT HE BASICALLY SAID TO HIS WIFE HE SAID LISTEN IF I HAVE TO
LISTEN TO ALF LANDON SPEAK ONE MORE TIME I'M THROWING THAT DAMN RADIO OUT THE WINDOW.
SO HERE WE ARE AT THE LANDON LECTION SERIES.
AND TODAY IS PERSONALLY AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR ME BECAUSE 61 YEARS AGO, MY PARENTS CAME TO A CATHOLIC ORPANAGE IN PITTSBURG
AND THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ME HOME WITH THEM. I WAS BORN IN THIS ORPHANAGE AND MY BIRTH MOTHER MADE THE
DECISION NOT TO RAISE ME, AND AS MY PARENTS EXPLAINED TO ME IT WAS SORT OF LIKE SHOPPING
FOR THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY.
(LAUGHTER)
THEY WENT TO THE ORPHANAGE AND DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GONNA LOOK FOR THE PLUMPIST KID THEY COULD FIND
ON THE THEORY THAT I WOULD BE HEALTHY AND INDEED BROUGHT ME HOME
THAT WAS MY FIRST FORAY WITH FOOD
APPARENTLY I WAS WELL FED AT THE ORPHANAGE.
I HAVE A PICTURE OF MYSELF MY FIRST DAY AT HOME. SLATHERED IN SPINACH AND I WAS A PRETTY HEFTY LITTLE FELLA
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT MY PARENTS EVER, EVER, EVER IMAGINED IN A 100 YEARS THAT I WOULD BE THE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
THEY MIGHT HAVE, THEY MIGHT HAVE SEEN A FUTURE FOR ME AS A MAYOR AS I WAS GROWING UP
AND MAYBE AS THE STATE SENATOR BUT NEVER IN THEIR FURTHEST IMAGINATION THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
BECAUSE AS THEY LIKE MANY AMERICANS, DID NOT FULLY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND AGRICULTURE
THEY HAD BEEN, LIKE MANY AMERICANS, SEVERAL GENERATIONS REMOVED AWAY FROM THE FARM
AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE AN APPRECIATION
FOR WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE RURAL AREAS OF MY HOMESTATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
OR FOR THAT MATTER THE RURAL AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO TODAY I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RISE IF YOU WILL IN DEFENSE OF AGRICULTURE
AND TO SPEAK CANDIDLY AND PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
AND HOW UNDERAPPRECIATED AND UNDERRECOGNIZED AGRICULTURE IS IN THIS COUNTRY
AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT PARTICULARILY FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS AUDIENCE
TO CARRY A MESSAGE, A VERY POSITIVE AGGRESSIVE MESSAGE, ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION THAT AGRICULTURE MAKES TO THIS NATION
EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT MY STAFF GIVES ME A EVERYDAY SERIES SYNOPSIS OF THE MEDIA
ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND I LOOK THROUGH THE CLIPS AND I KINDA GET A GENERAL SENSE OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AND SAYING ON THE TOPICS OF AGRICULTURE AND RELAYING ON TO USDA
AND I RAN ACROSS ONE THE OTHER DAY, AND SOMETIMES WHEN I RUN ACROSS ONE, A BLURB, I SAY I WANT TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE.
AND IT WAS FROM YAHOO. NOW WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, A YAHOO WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS...
(LAUGHTER)
NOT REAL SMART
WELL LET ME SAY THAT THERE WAS A YAHOO WRITING FOR YAHOO.
WHO WENT ONLINE AND DECIDED TO PONTIFICATE ABOUT USELESS DEGREES
HE FELT BY VIRTUE OF HIS DEGREE IN THEATRE, THAT HE WAS ABLE..
(LAUGHTER)
TO LIST THE USELESS DEGREES THAT ARE BEING ISSUED TODAY AND AWARDED AND EARNED BY STUDENTS TODAY IN AMERICA SCHOOLS.
AND HE HAD HIS TOP TEN LIST. AND THE NUMBER ONE USELESS DEGREE FROM THIS INDIVIDUALS PERSPECTIVE WAS AGRICULTURE
AND I WILL TELL YOU, THAT IS SO FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
THAT IT PROMPTS ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE TODAY.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SEVEN REASONS, SEVEN REASONS,
WHY AGRICULTURE IS NOT ONLY, NOT A USELESS DEGREE BUT IT'S AN IMPARITIVE DEGREE
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL DEGREE, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE,
ESPECIALLY FOR THIS COUNTRY AT THIS TIME.
LET ME START WITH THE OBVIOUS
AMERICA IS A COUNTRY THAT IS FOOD SECURE.
NOW DON'T TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED, DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE FACT THAT AMERICAN PRODUCERS CAN
PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US TO EAT.
85 PERCENT OF ALL THE FOOD WE CONSUME IS PRODUCED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE OTHER 15 PERCENT IS BECAUSE WE LIKE TO HAVE TANGERINES AND AVOCADOS 12 MONTHS A YEAR INSTEAD OF
MAYBE 4 OR 5 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. SO WE USE IMPORT STUFF.
BECAUSE WE WANT CHOICE WE WANT DIVERSITY, BUT THE STAPLES OF LIFE ARE PRODUCED BY OUR PRODUCERS
AND AN EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL NUMBER OF PRODUCERS
IF YOU TAKE THE DEFINITION OF FARMING THAT WE USE AT USFDA
IT'S A FAIRLY BROAD EXPANSIVE DEFINITION, ANYONE THAT PRODUCES MORE THAN A 1000 DOLLARS WORTH OF PRODUCE AND SELLS IT
IS A FARMER UNDER OUR ACCESSES DEFINITION.
IF YOU FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE THE BULK OF WHAT WE CONSUME
85 OF THE 85 PERCENT. IT'S 1/10TH OF 1 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION.
ITS JUST 2 TO 300 THOUSAND PEOPLE. BUT SINCE 1980, THOSE FOLKS HAVE ALLOWED AGRICULTURE TO
BE THE SECOND MOST PRODUCTIVE ASPECT OF OUR ECONOMY.
OF OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY, THE SECOND MOST PRODUCTIVE ASPECT.
AND BECAUSE THEY ARE SO PRODUCTIVE THEY ARE ABLE TO FEED OUR COUNTRY.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT THERE'S HARDLY ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH THAT HAS THAT SECURITY OF KNOWING THAT IF ALL ELSE FAILS
IF THE PORTS SHUT DOWN, IF WE HUNCKER DOWN AND WE'RE ENGAGED IN SOME MASSIVE CONFLIGURATION, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FEED OURSELVES.
THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. SOMEONE WHO GAVE THIS LECTURE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, SOMEONE WHOM I HAVE
A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR, NORMAN BORLAUG, AN IOWAN, CAME HERE AND MAY HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT HIS
CHILDHOOD IN THE EARLY 30'S. WHEN AMERICANS WEREN'T PRODUCING ENOUGH.
OR YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THE FUTURE, OF IN THE PAST, OF THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM WHEN HARRY TRUMAN
WAS CONCERNED THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE CONSUMING ENOUGH CALORIES TO HAVE A MILITARY CAPABLE OF DEFENDING THIS NATION.
WE WEREN'T ALWAYS A NATION THAT WAS FOOD SECURE, WE ARE TODAY.
AND THE RESULT OF IT IS IT GIVES US GREAT FLEXIBILITY.
NOT ONLY TO FEED OURSELVES BUT ALSO TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES WITH REFERENCE TO AGRICULTURE.
SO THAT IN OF ITSELF IS A REASON WHY PEOPLE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING AGRICULTURE
IN FACT, WE OUGHT TO PUT A, WE OUGHT TO PUT A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING OF AMERICAN FARMER ON MOUNT RUSHMORE
WELL COME TO THINK OF IT, WASHINGTON WAS A FARMER, JEFFERSON WAS A FARMER, LINCOLN CAME FROM FARM COUNTRY
AND ROOSEVELT, WELL SHOOT ALL HE DID WAS ESTABLISH THE 4 OF SERVICE.
SO WE HAVE SAID IT ALL ON MOUNT RUSHMORE, INTERESTING THING ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON
DID YOU REALIZE THAT HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AMERICAN DONKEY.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT FIGURED OUT THE CROSS SECTION OF HORSES AND MULES.
INTERESTING THOUGHT, AND I'M SURE THAT YOU'LL TAKE THAT FROM THE LECTURE.
(LAUGHTER)
KEEPING THE COUNTRY SECURE, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THE FACT THAT A COUNTRY THAT IS WELL FED IS A COUNTRY THAT IS AT PEACE WITH ITSELF.
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, A LOT OF THE DISCONTENT, A LOT OF THE DIFFICULTIES
A LOT OF THE TURMOIL, IS A RESULT OF THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT FULLY WELL FED IN THOSE COUNTRIES.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ARAB SPRING, WHAT WAS THE START OF IT, IT WAS THAT PEOPLE WERE HUNGRY
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME, THAT WHEN WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH NORTH KOREA ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS
THAT THE ONE THING THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD IS FOOD.
AND HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT CAPACITY OF THE REST OF THE WORLD TO PROVIDE FOOD WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE AWAY FROM
A VERY DANGEROUS PATH THEIR ON. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND REASON WHY AGRICULTURE IS IMPORTANT,
KEEPING THE COUNTRY SAFE AND SECURE AND WELL FED THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IMPORTANT
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE UNITED STATES TO HELP FEED THE WORLD AND KEEP IT SAFE.
THERE ARE 925 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT ARE MALNURISHED
WE EXPECT AND INTISIPATE TO SEE THE WORLD POPULATION GROW FROM 7 BILLION TO
8 BILLION TO 9 BILLION IN THE LIFETIME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS AUDITORIUM
AND IT MIGHT EVEN REACH 10 BILLION
WE HAVE TO INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTIVITY BY 70 PERCENT JUST TO MEET THAT DEMAND
IF WE THINK THERE IS DIFFICULTY IN THE WORLD TODAY OVER OIL, IMAGINE WHAT THE DIFFICULTIES
WILL BE IF WE ARE FUSSING AND FIGHTING OVER FOOD AND WATER.
AND SO IT WILL BE AGRICULTURE THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE SECURITY AND IT WILL BE AMERICAN
AGRICULTURE THAT WILL LEAD THAT EFFORT.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROVISIONS TO THAT, YOU KNOW ONE PROVISION IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN RESEARCH
BECAUSE OUR EXTRAORDINARY PRODUCTIVITY THAT HAS OCCURED OVER THE LAST 20, 30, 40 YEARS IS NOT
JUST A RESULT OF US DOING A SLIGHTLY BETTER JOB OF FARMING, IT'S ABOUT THE RESEARCH THAT HAS ALLOWED US
TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGIES, NEW SEED TECHNOLOGIES, PRECISION AGRICULTURE, NEW EQUIPMENT
THAT HAS LED TO AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOSION. WHEN I STARTED PRACITICING ON A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTHEAST, IOWA
FARMERS WERE PLANTING ROUGHLY 16 TO 17 THOUSAND CORN SEEDS PER ACRE
TODAY ROUTINELY 30 THOUSAND, SOME ARE PLANTING 40 THOUSAND AND THERE'S AT LEAST ONE COMPANY THAT IS
EXPERIMENTING ON 60 THOUSAND SEEDS PER ACRE.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY EXPANSION TO PRODUCTIVITY. IN MY LIFE TIME, A 300 PERCENT INCREASE IN CORN, A 200 PERCENT INCREASE IN WHEAT,
A 200 PERCENT INCREASE IN SOY BEANS, AND THAT HAS ALLOWED US THE CAPACITY TO NOT JUST SIMPLY TO PROVIDE
FOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE, BUT TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISSTANCE FOR OTHERS.
THERE'S AN EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAM THAT THIS STATE HAS A DIRECT CONNECTION TOO, CALLED THE MCGOVERN DOLE
OR THE DOLE MCGOVERN DEPENDING UPON WHERE EVER YOU ARE, FEEDING PROGRAM.
IT IMPACTS THE LIFES OF MILLIONS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE WORLD, I SAW IT MYSELF IN KENYA.
I WENT TO AN ORPHANAGE AS MY FIRST YEAR AS SECRETARY, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE MAYBE IN SOME SMALL WAY I COULD CONNECT TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE
WE HAD THE LITTLE RED CUP FROM THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM AND OUR JOB WAS TO FILL THAT LITTLE RED CUP WITH FOOD
AND GIVE IT TO THEM AND THEN SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING TO THEM.
THEY HAD THESE FOOD PROGRAMS CONNECTED TO THE EDUCATION PROGRAM
AND SO I ASKED THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD OF ASKED AS A GOVERNOR
OF STATE WHEN I WENT TO A SCHOOL, WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT SCHOOL, WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT?
IF I ASKED THAT QUESTION OF AN AMERICAN STUDENT, THEY MIGHT, DEPENDING UPON THEIR
THEIR GRADE LEVEL AND DEPENDING UPON HOW WELL THEY LIKE SCHOOL, THAT MIGHT BE ANYTHING FROM MATH
TO SCIENCE TO RECESS. BUT THESE KIDS ALL HAD THE SAME ANSWER. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE ABOUT SCHOOL?
IT'S WHERE I GET FED. IT'S WHERE I GET FED. NOW WHEN YOU ESTABLISH PROGRAMS LIKE THAT,
THE AMERICAN HONOR, THE AMERICAN FLAG, IF YOU WILL, IS ATTACHED TO THAT PROGRAM.
AND THAT YOUNGSTER GETS FED AND GETS EDUCATED BECAUSE OF THAT PROGRAM.
IT IS UNLIKELY THAT YOUNGSTER IS GOING TO GROW UP TO DISLIKE THIS COUNTRY.
IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THIS YOUNGSTER IS GOING TO GROW UP TO ADMIRE THIS COUNTRY.
AND WANT TO HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY IN HIS COUNTRY.
SO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE HAS THE CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY NOT JUST TO FEED OUR OWN BUT TO REACH OUT AND HELP OTHERS.
WE HAVE THE FEED THE FUTURE AT USDA DEPARTMENT WHERE WE ARE NOT JUST SIMPLY SENDING OUR EXCESS
>BUT WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING A TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION, SO THESE FARMERS IN THOSE COUNTRIES
CAN BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AS WELL THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COMPETE WITH US. WE ALL ARE IN THIS TOGETHER
IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET THIS EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN CHALLENGE OF FEEDING THE WORLDS POPULATION
AND DOING AT A TIME WHEN THERE WILL BE LESS LAND BECAUSE OF URBAN EXPANSION, GLOBALLY, GREATER THREATS
TO WATER RESOURCES, AND MORE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS.
IT'S A CHALLENGE OF A LIFETIME FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE.
IT'S THE CAPACITY TO SAVE THE WORLD. AND IT'S AMERICAN AGRICULTURE THAT IS AT THE CENTER OF THAT.
AND IT'S AT THE CENTER OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFER WORLD.
LESS PRONE TO TERRORISM, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY, ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WELL EDUCATED, HAVE A FUTURE
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO DESTROY THEY WANT TO BUILD.
SO THAT'S TWO PRETTY GOOD REASONS WHY AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, AND AGRICULTURAL DEGREES ARE PRETTY DOG-GONE IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTRY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT EXPORTS, WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY, THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
WE TALK ABOUT TRADE DEFICITS IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE BUY MORE STUFF
FROM FOLKS THEN THEY BUY FROM US, PRESIDENT SAYS WE NEED TO DOUBLE EXPORTS
WELL HOW ABOUT PUTTING A SPOT LIGHT ON ONE ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF ALL EXPORTS
THAT'S ABOUT AGRICULTURE. A RECORD YEAR LAST YEAR. 137 BILLION DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
THAT WENT ALL OVER THE WORLD. CHINA, CANADA, MEXICO, JAPAN, AND KOREA, AND THE EU OUR TOP CUSTOMERS
FOR 50 YEARS, FOR 50 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WE'VE HAD A TRADE SURPLUS IN AGRICULTURE
THAT MEANS WE SELL MORE THEN WE BUY. LAST YEAR IT WAS A RECORD
37 BILLION DOLLARS, SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT, JUST 5 YEARS AGO THAT
SURPLUS WAS UNDER 5 BILLION DOLLARS, AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITY AND EVERY BILLION DOLLARS
OF AGG. SALES, EXPORTED SALES, GENERATES 84 HUNDRED JOBS AT HOME, IMPROVE FARM INCOME, EXPANDED JOB OPPORTUNITIES
AND THE TRADE SURPLUS, IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY, AND AS WE LOOK AT HOW TO REBUILD AND RESHAPE THE MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS COUNTRY
THE FORMULA IS PRETTY CLEAR, YES WE'LL BE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPENDS LESS,
BUT WE NEED TO BE A GOVERNMENT THAT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
SO THAT WE CAN PRODUCE MORE. THAT WE BECOME AN ECONOMY THAT MAKES, CREATES, AND INNOVATES AGAIN
AND BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING AND CREATING AND INNOVATING THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER OCCURED BEFORE
THE REST OF THE WORLD WANTS A PIECE OF THAT AND THEY PURCHASE THOSE PRODUCTS AND THAT TECHNOLOGY
AND WE CREATE WEALTH HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE EXPAND IN THE MIDDLE CLASS, WHO IS DOING THAT?
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. WE INVESTED IN THE DEBT RIDDEN DAYS OF THE 80'S
WE WENT THROUGH TURMOIL, WE LOST A LOT OF GOOD PRODUCERS,
IT WAS A TOUGH TIME, AMERICAN AGRICULTURE COULD OF GIVEN UP.
BUT NO THAT'S NOT THE WAY OF RURAL AMERICA. YOU GOT A PROBLEM YOU FIX IT, YOU SOLVE IT
SO THEY WENT ABOUT REDUCING DEBT, INVESTING IN THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, EXPANDING CAPACITY, PRODUCING MORE,
MEETING OUR NEEDS AND EXPORTING. BOTTOM LINE, LAST YEAR A RECORD INCOME FOR FARMERS.
FIRST TIME IN OUR COUNTRIES HISTORY WE HAD MORE THAN A 100 BILLION DOLLARS IN NET FARMERS INCOME
IT'S THE FORMULA FOR THE COUNTRY. AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE HAS DONE IT, IT'S A PROOF POINT.
SO FOOD SECURITY FOR US, FOOD SECURITY FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD
A GROWING MIDDLE CLASS, EXPANDING EXPORTS.
THREE PRETTY GOOD REASONS WHY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAJOR IN AGRICULTURE.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMY, RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT OCCURS
WHEN SOMEONE PRODUCES SOMETHING IT HAS TO BE TAKEN TO A LOCATION WHERE IT IS STORED AND ULTIMATELY
TRANSPORTED TO SOMEWHERE WHERE IT IS PROCESSED AND PACKAGED AND MARKETED
AND RETAILED AND SOLD AND CONSUMED. EVERYONE OF THOSE STEPS INVOLVES EMPLOYEMENT
TODAY AGRICULTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE OUT OF EVERY 12 JOBS IN AMERICA.
ONE OUT OF EVERY 12 JOBS, AND AS WE EXPAND PRODUCTIVITY, AS WE FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS TO USE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
WHOLE NEW INDUSTRIES CROP UP. WHOLE NEW PIECES OF FARM MACHINERY NEED TO BE DEVELOPED
I WAS IN A JOHN DEERE FACILITY IN ANCONY NOT LONG AGO, GIVING A SPEACH ABOUT THE FOOD FARM AND JOBS BILL
AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, THAT IN THIS FACILITY THEY WERE, EVEN IN THE DIFFICULT ECONOMY WE FACED
THEY WERE ADDING SHIFTS, WHY? BECAUSE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE WAS SUCCEEDING AND FARMERS WERE IN
A POSITION TO PURCHASE MORE FARM EQUIPTMENT
AND THIS FARM EQUIPTMENT WAS SOPHISTICATED, IT WAS HIGHLY HIGH TECH,
I'LL NEVER FORGET TAKING THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR LISA JACKSON TO A FARM IN IOWA
ENCOURAGING HER TO GET OUT AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
AND BLESS HER HEART SHE CLIMBED INTO THIS TRACTOR AND SHE STARTED LOOKING AROUND
AT VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS IN THAT TRACTOR AND SHE POINTED TO THE LITTLE BOX AND SHE SAID,
'WHAT IS THAT?'
I SAID WELL THAT'S GPS, GPS? GLOBAL POSITIONING?.. YEA IT'S GPS.
WELL WHAT'S THAT DOING IN A TRACTOR, WELL IT'S CALLED PRECISION AGRICULTURE
IT'S THE ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T WASTE BY BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THAT TRACTOR
IN A STRAIGHT LINE. GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A TRACTOR AND YOU DRIVE IT
YOU MAY START AT ONE END OF THE FEILD AND YOU MAY ANYWHERE FROM SEVERAL FEET TO AS
AS MUCH AS 30 FEET IN A DIFFERENT SPOT AT THE OTHER END OF THE FEILD AS FROM YOU WERE WHEN YOU BEGAN
WITH GPS SYSTEMS, THE DIFFERENTIAL IS 6 INCHES.
A LOT LESS WASTED SEED, CHEMICALS, FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES, BETTER FARM INCOME
BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE SAID.
THAT SOPHISTICATED EQUIPTMENT IS BEING MADE BY FOLKS IN MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
AND IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHERE THE MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE BEING CREATED
AND YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHERE THE INCOME AND THE UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE IS BEGINNING TO GO DOWN
AT A FASTER RATE, IT'S INTERESTINGLY IN THE HEARTLAND OF THE COUNTRY
WHY IS THAT? MAYBE PART OF IT IS THE AUTO INDUSTRY BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO
EQUALLY A RESPONSIBILITY OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.
SO IT'S A JOB CREATOR. SO FOUR GOOD REASONS, HOW ABOUT ENERGY?
THINK ABOUT THIS, THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT AMERICAN AGRICULTURE IS LEADING
THE WAY TOWARDS A MORE DIVERSIFIED ENERGY FUTURE FOR THIS COUNTRY
AND ONE THAT CREATES JOB OPPORTUNITIES, THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE TODAY
ARE NOW IMPORTING 45 PERCENT OF OIL FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE AT 62 PERCENT. NOW WHY IS THAT? MANY REASONS BUT ONE REASON IS
BECAUSE WE'RE CONTINUING TO USE MORE OF OUR RURAL AREAS TO PRODUCE POWER IN RENEWABLE WAYS
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPAND TO USE OF BIOFUELS IN THIS COUNTRY
IF YOU ARE A CONSUMER AND YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGH GAS PRICES JUST YOU, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW
AT RECENT IOWA STATE STUDYS SUGGEST THAT YOUR GAS PRICES WOULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 80 CENTS AND 1.30 HIGHER
IF WE HADN'T HAD A BIOFUEL INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO AMERICAN FARMERS AND PRODUCERS BY PRODUCING THE FEED STOCKS FOR THESE
NEW FUELS ARE HELPING YOU REDUCE YOUR COST AT THE PUMP, EVEN AS HIGH AS IT IS.
JUST THINK ABOUT PAYING 80 CENTS TO A 1.30 MORE FOR GAS.
THANK AN AMERICAN FARMER FOR THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT TODAY
AND THE FUTURE HOLDS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE EVEN FURTHER LESS RELIANT ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF OIL
BECAUSE WE'RE FIGURING OUT HOW TO USE LIVESTOCK WASTE AND CROP RESIDUE.
WOODY BIOMASS, PERENNIAL GRASSES, DOUBLE CROPPING SYSTEMS, WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN
EXPAND DRAMATICALLY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL AND ENERGY WE CAN PRODUCE IN RURAL AREAS AND THAT
IN TURN HELPS TO CREATE MORE EMPLOYEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND MAKES US ENERGY SECURE, AND IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A BRAVE NEW OPPORTUNITY
AND A BRAVE NEW WORLD IN WHICH VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WE NEED TO RUN THE ECONOMY CAN BE
BIO AND PLANT BASED. THERE ARE 31 HUNDRED COMPANIES IN AMERICA TODAY THAT ARE
PRODUCING SOMETHING LIKE A CHEMICAL, A POLYMER, A FABRIC, A FIBER,
FROM PLANT BASED, CROP RESIDUE WASTE, LIVESTOCK WASTE BASED, OR FEED STOCKS
AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL IS HELPING TO HAVE A REBIRTH OF THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTRY
IT'S HELPING US TO MOVE AWAY FROM PETROELUEM BASED PLASTICS.
INTO MORE RENEWABLE RESOURCES. THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
JUST IMAGINE THE ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY TO RE-DEFINE THE ECONOMY OF THIS COUNTRY
ON THE CAPACITY OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE TO PRODUCE
I WAS TELLING A GROUP EARLIER THAT I HAD A TOUR OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
BIO-BASED OPERATION AND THEY WERE SHOWING ME THINGS THAT WERE JUST AMAZING, THEY SHOWED ME A DANDELLION
AND THEY SAID THIS IS THE FUTURE OF RUBBER, AND I SAID, SERIOUSLY?
AND THEY SAID, THAT LITTLE CREAMY STUFF IN THE STEM OF THE DANDELLION
THAT CAN BE USED TO PRODUCE RUBBER. WE ARE DOING THAT HERE.
IMAGINE. I WENT TO THE NEXT LOCATION AND THERE WAS A BIG CHUNK, DARK BLACK CHUNK OF SOMETHING
ON THE TABLE AND I WENT TO IT AND I SAID TO THE LADY, WHAT IS THIS? AND SHE SAID IT'S ASFAULT
AND I WAS KIND OF A SMART-ALIC, AND I SAID WELL YOU REALIZE I'M THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
I'M NOT REALLY THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. SHE SAID, AND SHE'S KIND OF A SERIOUS YOUNG LADY.
SHE SAID, WELL SIR, YES I KNOW WHO YOU ARE,
AND THE REASON WE ARE SHOWING YOU THIS, SMART-ALIC, IS BECAUSE THE ADHESSIVE MATERIAL FOR THIS
CHUNK OF ASPHALT IS HOG MANURE. AND THEN TO PROVE SHE WAS JUST AS MUCH OF A SMART-ALIC AS I WAS
SHE SAID WE ARE TESTING THE ROADS IN OHIO, IT'S DOING VERY WELL DURING THE WINTER
(LAUGHTER)
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS FOLKS, THE CAPACITY TO USE WHAT HAD LITTLE VALUE, OR LIMITED VALUE,
NOW HAS UNLIMITED POTENTIAL. WE USED TO BE ABLE TO EXPORT CHEMICALS IN THIS COUNTRY
BUT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE SUCH A USER OF CHEMICALS WE HAVE TO IMPORT THEM.
CREATING WEALTH AND JOBS SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE CAN DO IT NOW HERE IN AMERICA. WHY?
BECAUSE OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE OF RESEARCH IN AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.
FOOD SECURITY, A SAFER WORLD, GREAT EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, JOB GROWTH, ENERGY SECURITY
A NEW ECONOMIC PARADIGM FOR THE COUNTRY
NOW IF YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED BY NOW THAT THAT YAHOO WAS A YAHOO
LET ME JUST MAKE TWO OTHER POINTS BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS
IT'S AMERICAN AGRICULTURE THAT, THREE OTHER POINTS ACTUALLY, I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTES HERE, THREE OTHER POINTS.
ONE IS THAT AMERICAN AGRICULTURE IN RURAL AMERICA REPRESENTS THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR LAND MASS
AND THEREFORE WE HAVE A UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THIS COUNTRY
NO BETTER STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND WATER THEN THOSE WHO FARM AND RANCH
WHY? BECAUSE THEY DEPEND ON THE LAND AND THE WATER FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD
IT'S AS MUCH APART OF THEM AS THEIR FAMILY IS AND THEY TREAT IT AS SUCH
TODAY WE HAVE A RECORD AMOUNT OF ARCES AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO IMPROVE AND EXAND DRAMATICALLY IN OUR WILDLIFE DIVERSITY
AND THE QUALITY OF OUR WATER AND THAT'S NOT JUST IMPORTANT FOR AGRICULTURE, AND THAT'S NOT JUST IMPORTANT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
BUT IT OPENS UP WHOLE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
AT LEAST YOU THINK THAT NOT A BIG DEAL. OUTDOOR RECREATIONS IS A 730 BILLION DOLLAR PART OF OUR ECONOMY
JUST GO BY A BASS PRO SHOP AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
PEOPLE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR SHOTGUNS, AND FISHING GEAR, CANOES, AND KAYAKS AND EVERYTHING OF THOSE ITEMS
AND FOUR WHEELERS, IF WE CAN EXAND DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE AND WE CAN
CLEAN THE WATERS OF THIS COUNTRY AND CREATE NEW FISHING, AND HUNTING, AND BIRD WATCHING AND HIKING OPPORTUNITIES
WE EXPAND OUTDOOR RECREATION WE EXPAND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR RECONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEIR RURAL ROOTS
SO THE ENVIRONMENT BENEFITS FROM AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
BUT SEE ITS THE AMERICAN STORY THAT I THINK IS SIGNIFICANT AND IT'S THE AMERICAN VALUE SYSTEM THAT I THINK IS SIGNIFICANT
JUST THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 35 PERCENT OF ALL THE VEGETABLES THAT ARE PRODUCED IN THIS COUNTRY
AND NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF ALL THE FRUIT IS AT SOME POINT IN TIME TOUCHED BY HIRED LABOR.
AND THAT MOST OF OUR FOOD AND LIVESTOCK THAT IS ULTIMATELY PROCESSED IS TOUCHED AND INSPECTED
AND CUT UP AND BUTCHERED BY HIRED LABOR. AND YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT THE SUBSTANTIAL PERCENTAGE
OF THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING ALL THAT HARD WORK ARE IMMIGRANTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY FOLLOWED THE RULES AND SOME OF THEM ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT.
BUT THEY ARE DOING WHAT YOUR FAMILY DID AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
AND I START OUT THIS DISCUSSION POINTING OUT THE FACT THAT IM AN ORPHAN
AND I DON'T KNOW MY FAMILY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY HERITAGE IS, I'M ALWAYS JEALOUS OF PEOPLE
THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK 100'S OF YEARS. AND KNOW THE STORIES OF THEIR FAMILY
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF WE INTERVIEWED EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS AUDITORIUM
YOU'D EVENTUALLY GET TO SOMEONE FROM YOUR FAMILY THAT IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY
AND PROBABLY DIDN'T COME IN HERE WITH A LOT OF WEALTH AND RICHES.
PROBABLY CAME HERE WITH THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK. AND A STRONG DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE AMERICA.
THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THESE FARM FIELDS TODAY.
THESE PEOPLE WORK JOBS THAT A LOT OF US WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK.
THEY WORK HARD, THEY WORK IN PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS. THEY WORK IN DANGEROUS JOBS.
AND WHY DO THEY DO IT? THEY DO IT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILY.
THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IF THEY WORK HARD AND THEY SAVE THEIR FAMILIES WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
THEIR CHILDREN ONE DAY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ONE DAY MAYBE ONE OF THEIR KIDS MIGHT GO TO KSTATE.
GET A COLLEGE DEGREE AND BE SOMEBODY. THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT BEFORE YOU CAN DREAM YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE. AND IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS REMIND US OF THAT.
EVERY GENERATION, AND IT'S AMERICAN AGRICULTURE IN MANY CASES THAT HAS BEEN OUR HISTORY AND OUR ENTRY POINT FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE.
FOR THOSE WHO WORK HARD, FOR THOSE WHO SAVE, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A VISION A COMPELLING VISION
THAT DRIVES THEM THROUGH THE FATIGUE OF 10, 12, 14 HOUR DAYS.
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PUT UP WITH THE HEAT, THE HUMIDITY.
THE EXTRAORDINARY, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING WORK. THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT COMPELLING VISION OF A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY
NOW WE'VE GOT A BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE'VE GOTTA HAVE THE GUTS TO FIX IT.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICAN AGRICULTURE HAS BEEN THE GATEWAY AND IT IS WHAT HAS PROVIDED
THIS COUNTRY SINCE THE BEGGINING WITH THE CAPACITY OF THE NEW GENERATION TO COME IN WITH THE WILLINGNESS
TO SACRAFICE, WILLINGNESS TO SAVE, WILLINGNESS TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO SUCCEED.
AND THAT HAS KEPT THIS COUNTRY GOING AND THAT HAS KEPT THIS COUNTRY GREAT.
AND THEN THERE IS THE GENERATION OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AWHILE WHO LIVE IN THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THESE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THESE SMALL TOWNS ON THESE FARMS AND RANCHES?
THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE, THEY'RE GREAT AMERICANS. HOW DO I KNOW THAT?
RURAL AMERICA REPRESENTS 16 PERCENT OF AMERICAS' POPULATION.
BUT NEARLY 40 PERCENT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM TODAY.
COME FROM RURAL AMERICA, 40 PERCENT OF THOSE KIDS WE'RE WELCOMING BACK FROM IRAQ
40 PERCENT OF THOSE KIDS WE HOPE COME BACK FROM AFGANISTAN WHOLE
THEY'RE FROM THOSE SMALL TOWNS.
I'VE GOT A, AND I SHARE WITH SENATOR ROBERTS, I'VE GOT A 20 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WHO IS A MARINE.
HE GREW UP IN A FAMILY WHOSE DAD IS A LAWYER, MOM IS A, WORKS AT A COLLEGE.
THEY GOT PLENTY OF DOUGH. SMART KID, B STUDENT. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE MARINES.
HE CHOOSE, WHY DID HE CHOOSE? BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES?
HECK HE COULD OF GONE TO JUST ABOUT ANY COLLEGE IN THE COUNTRY.
PARENTS COULD OF PAID FOR IT. WHY DID HE DO THAT?
WHY DO A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM RURAL AMERICA GO INTO THE MILITARY?
BECAUSE THEY ARE RAISED IN A FARM COMMUNITY
AND THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING VERY BASIC ABOUT THE LAND
YOU CAN'T KEEP TAKING FROM IT. THERE IS NOT A FARMER IN THIS AUDIENCE
THAT COULD STAY IN BUSINESS VERY LONG IF THEY DIDN'T GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE LAND THAT THEY FARMED
THEY REPLENISH IT, THEY RENURISH IT, AND WHEN THEY DO, THE LAND CAN KEEP PRODUCING FOR THEM.
THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S A BARGAIN, IT'S A GIVE AND TAKE, AND WHEN YOU GROW UP SURROUNDED BY THAT VALUE SYSTEM
YOU UNDERSTAND A COUNTRY IS NO DIFFERENT. YOU CAN'T KEEP TAKING FROM IT, YOU GOT TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK.
YOU KNOW AS A GOVERNOR, I HAD MANY GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT PROBABLY THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY
AND THE GREATEST PRIVILEDGE WAS TO BE THE COMMANDER IN CHEIF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY IN A TIME OF WAR, YOU HAVE THE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE OF SEEING PEOPLE OFF TO WAR
AND THEN WELCOMING THEM BACK AND THAT'S AN EMOTIONAL EVENT UNLIKE ANY YOU'LL EVER EXPERIENCE
BUT THERE IS ALSO THAT SAD REALITY THAT SOME OF THEM DO NOT COME BACK.
AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A GOVERNOR IS TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES AND EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF A GREATFUL CITIZENRY
THE SACRIFICE THE FAMILY HAS MADE. LET ME FINISH WITH ONE STORY.
BRUCE SMITH WAS A 20 YEAR VETERAN OF THE NATIONAL GUARD, IOWA NATIONAL GUARD.
BRUCE LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN CALLED WEST LIBERTY.
WEST LIBERTY BY THE WAY IS ABOUT HALF HISPANIC, HALF UH, HALF CAUCASION
THERE'S A PROCESSING PLANT THERE, TURKEY PROCESSING PLANT.
AND BRUCE HE HAD A PRETTY DECENT JOB, HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL WIFE
TWO CHILDREN, HIS COUNTRY CALLED HIM TO IRAQ.
THIS WOULD BE HIS THIRD TOUR OF DUTY
BRUCE WAS THAT GUY IN THE NATIONAL GUARD THAT ALL THE YOUNG GUYS WENT TO BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN AROUND FOREVER
SO HIS JOB WAS TO, HE WAS A HELICOPTER PILOT, HIS JOB WAS TO FERRY TROOPS FROM ONE PART OF BAGHDAD TO ANOTHER
I DON'T KNOW IF, SENATOR ROBERTS YOU'VE BEEN TO BAGHDAD DURING THAT POINT IN TIME AND IT MAY SEEM KIND OF STRANGE THAT YOU HAVE TO
ACTUALLY HELICOPTER PEOPLE FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER BUT IT WAS SO DANGEROUS YOU COULDN'T DRIVE.
SO HE WAS FERRYING A GROUP ONE DAY, AND HIS CHOPPER WAS HIT WITH A MISSILE
HANDHELD MISSILE, AND AS I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE AGNT GENERAL, FROM THE RADIO DISCUSSION, HE HAD A BRIEF MOMENT
AND HE HAD VERY LIMITED CAPACITY TO MANUIVER THAT CHOPPER AS IT WAS GOING DOWN
AND HE HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN MANUIVERING IT IN A WAY THAT PROBABLY COULD OF INCREASED HIS CHANCES OF SURVIVAL AND OF THAT OF HIS CO-PILOT
BUT THAT WOULD OF PROBABLY PUT THE FOLKS ON BOARD AT GREATER RISK OR VISA VERSA PUT HIMSELF AT GREATER RISK
BUT MAYBE INCREASED THE CHANCES OF SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WALKING AWAY
AND HE DID WHAT HE WAS TAUGHT TO DO. HE DID WHAT KIDS IN RURAL AMERICA OUR TAUGHT TO DO
HE DID THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, HE PUT HIMSELF AT RISK, HE DIED, HIS CO-PILOT DIED
17 PEOPLE LIVED, 17 PEOPLE WALKED AWAY FROM THAT CRASH
I HAD TO TALK TO HIS WIFE. I CAN TELL YOU GIVE A LOT OF SPEECHES, YOU GIVE A LOT OF LECTURES, YOU GIVE A LOT OF TALKS
WHEN YOU'RE A POLITICIAN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE WORDS, NOBODY HAS EVER WRITTEN THE WORDS
THAT WILL CONVEY TO SOMEBODY THAT YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH
SINCE THEIR LIFE GOT TURNED AROUND WITHIN A 24, 48 HOUR PERIOD
AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT HUSBAND THAT THEY HAD MARRIED AND LOVED FOR 20 YEARS WAS GONE
AND NEVER COMING BACK. THAT YOU WITH A HIGHSCHOOL DEGREE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE YOUR TWO CHILDREN ON YOUR OWN
SO I TALKED TO THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN AND I SAID LADY I'M SORRY, I'M TERRIBLY SORRY
I STRUGGLED AND I STARTED TALKING ABOUT THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND I JUST COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS
AND THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN, INTERUPTS ME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND SHE SAYS GOVERNOR
SHE SAID I, YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE YOUR CALL, SHE SAID, I'VE GOT THIS FIGURED OUT.
FIGURED OUT, HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE IT FIGURED OUT?
SEE THE WAY I FIGURED, THE 17 PEOPLE WHO LIVED THAT DAY NEEDED BRUCE MORE IN THAT SPLIT SECOND
THAN I WILL NEED HIM IN THE REST OF MY LIFE.
AND I REALIZED THEN, AS I REALIZED MANY TIMES IN MY TRAVEL AROUND RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
THAT I WAS IN THE PRESENTS OF GREATNESS, BRUCE UNDERSTOOD THAT HE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY AND A DUTY TO GIVE
BACK TO HIS COUNTRY AND TO PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE, HIS WONDERFUL SPOUSE UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE TOO HAD A RESPONSIBILITY
AND THAT SOMETIMES COUNTRIES CALL FOR GREATER SACRIFICES FROM SOME FAMILY THAN OTHERS.
AND THAT FAMILY WAS PREPARED TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE BECAUSE THEY WERE RAISED IN AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY
THAT UNDERSTOOD THAT BARGAIN, THAT RESPONSIBILITY, THAT TWO WAY STREET THAT A COUNTRY AND IT'S CITIZENS HAVE.
AND THAT IS A RESULT OF AGRICULTURE. AND THE VALUE SYSTEM WITHIN AGRICULTURE.
SO DON'T TELL ME THAT A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE IS USELESS.
DON'T TELL ME THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO BE APPRECIATING AND CELEBRATING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION
OF FARM FAMILIES AROUND THIS COUNTRY. DON'T TELL ME IT'S JUST AN AFTERTHOUGHT
DON'T TELL ME THAT IT'S NOT SOME THING THAT WE NOT OUGHT TO APPRECIATE AND CHARISH
AND NURISH, AND TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WHO ARE HERE, I LEAVE YOU WITH A CHALLENGE
YOU HAVE THIS UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY. TO REACQUAINT PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF AMERICAN FARMER, RANCHERS, AND PRODUCERS, YOU HAVE THE
THIS ENORMOUS, EXCITING, CHALLENGING FUTURE. WHERE YOU NOT JUST CAN RESHAPE AGRICULTURE
NOT JUST GAIN ACCEPTANCE OF THESE GREAT BIG SCIENCE BREAK THROUGHS
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO FEED THE WORLD AND OUR OWN COUNTRY, NOT JUST THE CAPACITY TO MAKE
US LESS RELIANT ON COUNTRIES THAT DON'T LIKE US FOR OUR ENERGY.
BUT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO RESHAPE THE ECONOMY SO THAT'S SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
CREATES JOBS, AND BRINGS RENEWED FAITH, AND INTEREST, AND HOPE, AND OPPORTUNITY, TO RURAL PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY
AND IN DOING SO YOU CAN KEEP THAT VALUE SYSTEM, THAT AMERICAN STRUGGLE, AND THAT AMERICAN BARGAIN THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT ALIVE.
YOU HAVE THAT POWER. USE IT, DON'T JUST SIMPLY FOCUS ON YOUR SMALL PIECE.
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A AMBASSADOR FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURE AND FOR ALL THE GOOD THAT IT STANDS FOR.
DON'T BE BASHFUL, DON'T BE HUMBLE ABOUT THIS, YOU GOT TO TELL FOLKS. YOU GOT TO BROADCAST IT, YOU GOT TO SHARE IT.
DON'T HAVE THE CONVERSATION BE INSULAR WITH JUST WITHIN AGRICULTURE WE GOT TO TALK TO THE OTHER 98 PERCENT
WE GOT TO TELL THEM THAT THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS STRONG, THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS GREAT
AND THE REASON THIS COUNTRY HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FUTURE BEGAN, CONTINUES, AND WILL ALWAYS BE BECAUSE WE HAVE
FARM FAMILIES. WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY BLESSED. AND YOU HAVE A MISSION, SEIZE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND YOUR KIND RESPONSE MAKES ME WANT TO ALSO LEAVE THE STAGE.
BUT THERE ARE TWO MICROPHONES AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ONE BRAVE SOUL TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND START WITH
UH WE'VE GOT A BRAVE SOUL RIGHT THERE. FIRE AWAY
SPEAKER: UM YES, I LIKED WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE,
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON MONSANTO AND GMO CROPS FOR THE FUTURE OF POLLINATORS
IN THE UNITED STATES? SUCH AS BEES AND BUTTERFLIES?
WELL I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE CAPACITY OF BIOTECHOLOGY TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE OF FEEDING
AN EVER INCREASING WORLD POPULATION. AND THE REASON I DO IS BECAUSE IT HAS ALLOWED US TO CREATE
EXTRAORDINARY PRODUCTIVITY GAINS AND TO DO IT IN A WAY WHERE WE ARE HOPEFULLY DEVELOPING SCIENCE THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO USE LESS WATER, LESS PESTICIDES, LESS CHEMICALS OVERTIME.
AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO APPRECIATE THE ROLE THAT BEES PLAY IN AGRICULTURE GENERALLY WHICH IS WHY
WE'RE PUTTING RESEARCH BEHIND TRYING TO FIGURE HOW COLONIES COLLAPSE DISORDER, WHAT IS PROMPTING THAT,
WHAT IS CAUSING IT, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS IN WHICH ONCE WE FIND THE PROBLEM, HOW WE SOLVE IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A DIRECT TIE, YOU MAY HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS THEN I DO, I DON'T KNOW
THERE'S A DIRECT TIE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU IF WE'RE TRULY INTERESTED IN FEEDING THE REST OF THE WORLD WE HAVE
GOT TO HAVE SCIENCE. WE HAVE TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR SCIENCE.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION IN THIS COUNTRY BETWEEN FOLKS WHO FEEL THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO FARM
WHETHER IT'S ORGANIC, OR CONVENTIONAL, OR A GMO, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THOSE PEOPLE
WITH ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, FOLKS TALKING TO EACH OTHER, IF FOLKS ASK ME, WELL DO YOU SUPPORT ORGANIC
OR DO YOU SUPPORT GMO? AS IF IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER, IT WOULD BE LIKE ASKING ME
IF I, WHICH OF MY TWO SONS I LOVE THE MOST. I SEE THEM AS EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS
I SEE THE ORGANIC MOVEMENT IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CREATES AND AVENUE FRONT FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND CREATIVITY
AND THAT THERE IS A GROWING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR THIS AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REPOND TO IT.
IT'S A WAY IN WHICH WE ARE RECONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEIR FOOD SUPPLY WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO FARM.
AT THE SAME TIME. THE ENORMOUS CHALLENGE WE FACE OF PRODUCING ENOUGH BULK COMMODITIES
TO BE ABLE TO FEED THIS EVER INCREASING POPULATION.
THE CHALLENGES ARE ENORMOUS. CHINA AND INDIA AS THEIR MIDDLE CLASSES EXPAND,
THE DEMAND FOR FOOD THAT THEY WILL HAVE, IS, IS EXTRAORDINARY. JUST THOSE TWO COUNTRIES ALONE.
NOT TAKING ANY OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT ARE GOING TO SEE GROWING POPULATIONS.
MORE ENERGY INTENSIVE, MORE DEMAND, MORE COMPETITION FOR SCARCE RESOURCES
AND I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A COMMITMENT TO SCIENCE AND A CONVERSATION
THAT ALLOWS SCIENCE TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND, AND DO IT IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE WAY
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. WE'LL SEED IT TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY
UH, AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE DO WE WILL BE LESS SAFE.
SO YOU KNOW DON'T ASK ME TO CHOOSE, I'M NOT GOING TO CHOOSE. I THINK THEY WE CAN CO-EXIST
I THINK THAT WE CAN LIVE IN THE SAME WORLD TOGETHER
IF THERE REALLY ARE RISKS OR CHALLENGES IN THAT EFFORT LETS FIGURE THEM OUT, LETS SOLVE THEM
BUT IF FOLKS ARE GONNA SAY WE ARE GONNA DO ALL OF THIS SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AND WE'RE SOMEHOW GONNA
FEED 9 BILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT THE USE OF NEW TECHNIQUES. I... I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
SPEARKER: MR. SECRETARY, UH ROGER ABBOTT HAS A CONSULTANT AT A KANSAS CITY FOOD AND SAFETY
I GET TO WORK WITH THE FSIS QUITE A BIT. I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY DO, THE FDA I THINK IS OVERBURDENED PROBABLY
WITH FISMA AND EVERYTIME THERE IS AN OUTBREAK EVERY FEW YEARS, A FOOD SAFETY OUTBREAK,
THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY REGULARTORY AGENCY
UH.. CAN YOU DISCUSS ANY SPECULATION ABOUT THAT, CAN WE PUT THAT DEMON DOWN FOR NOW, OR WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT?
SECRETARY: WELL, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YA, RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE
A SINGLE SAFETY, FOOD SAFETY DEPARTMENT, I THINK THE KEY HERE IS TO HAVE A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM
RIGHT, AND WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, SECRETARY, UM.. WE GOT THE PRESIDENT'S ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE, FOOD SAFETY
WE ESTABLISHED A FOOD SAFETY WORKING GROUP, AND THE REASON WE DID WAS BECAUSE USDA'S APPROACH TO
FOOD SAFETY WAS PREVENTION FIRST AND THEN MITIGATION SECOND. FDA'S REACTION,
BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS, THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, WERE OPERATING IN THE ENORMITY
OF WHAT THEY HAD TO COVER. WAS PRETTY MUCH A MITIGATION STRATEGY, RIGHT?
SO WE WERE SORT OF NOT WORKING ON THE SAME SYSTEM OR THE SAME PHILOSOPHY.
SO KATHLEEN SEBELIUS AND I, WHO WERE FRIENDS AS FORMER GOVERNORS, UH GOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HER
WE SAT DOWN AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, ISN'T THERE A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN CREATE A MORE CONSISTENT SYSTEM?
SO WE SET THIS FOOD SAFETY WORKING GROUP UP AND IT'S ALREADY MET SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN ECOLI DETECTION
AND BETTER PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR POULTRY WHICH WILL REDUCE ILLNESSES. A NEW SYSTEM FOR INSPECTING POULTRY
WHICH WE HONESTLY BELIEVE WILL REDUCE FOOD BORN ILLNESS AS WELL.
AND THE FDA BASICALLY FOCUSING ON PREVENTION. NOW THEY ARE CHALLENGED WITH THE FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, THEY ARE CHALLENGED BECAUSE IT IS AN ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING
AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE A PRETTY, PRETTY LIMITED.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY FORMULATE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ITS
THAT ITS DOABLE, THAT IT DOESN'T CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES
UM, IF I CAN TAKE YOUR QUESTION ONE STEP FURTHER, I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS A THREAT
TO USDA, IN TERMS OF PARCELING IT OUT AND THE REASON I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT IT
RIGHT, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A SINGLE FOOD SAFETY ENTITY.
I THINK SENATOR ROBERTS WOULD ACKNOWLEGDE, REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT FROM TIME TO TIME THAT PEOPLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT INTERIOR TALK ABOUT TAKING OVER THE FOUR OF SERVICE
YOU HERE ABOUT THAT, UH, THERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT CONSOLIDATING BUSINESS PROGRAMS,
TRADE PROGRAMS, AND CONSOLIDATING RESEARCH EFFORTS.
SO THERE IS ALWAYS THAT THREAT, BUT THIS IS TO ME IS A REFLECTION OF THE FACT THAT AGRICULTURE IS UNDERAPPRECIATED
AND THAT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE, IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES WE'VE ALREADY CREATED IT AT THE USDA
WE'VE CREATED IT IN THE SENSE THAT EVERYTHING RURAL IS FOCUSED IN ONE DEPARTMENT.
YOU START PARCELING OUT ALL OF THIS STUFF, THEN YOU HAVE RURAL AMERICA BEING PART OF SOMETHING
NOT BEING THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF SOMETHING.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING AS OPPOSED TO BEING THE CENTRAL FOCUS
YOU ARE COMPETING WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS IN THAT DEPARTMENT
AND WITH USDA IT IS NOT A COMPETITION, WE'RE ALL ABOUT RURAL
SO I HOPE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS GREAT EFFICIENCY IN THE OPERATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
NOW THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T OTHER AREAS OF GOVERNMENT THAT NEED TO BE CONSOLIDATED.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE AT USDA CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF WORKING ON TRYING TO STREAMLINE OUR OPERATIONS
SO I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I THINK YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE CONCIOUS
AND I THINK AGAIN, IF WE ELEVATE AGRICULTURE AND WE POINT OUT THE ROLE ISSUES ARE ALL CONCENTRATED
IN ONE LOCATION, THEN I THINK WE'VE GOT A CHANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
SPEAKER: HI, KYLE ABBOTT, I'M A SENIOR HERE. HAVING GROWN UP ON A FAMILY FARM IN WESTERN KANSAS
I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REGULATORY BURDEN THAT OUR PRODUCERS FACE.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE CONSESQUENCES OF BOTH THE LABOR DEPARTMENT AND THE EPA'S REGULATIONS
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO CHILDREN ON THE AGRICULTURAL SETTING, LIKE ME, WHO WORKED ON THE FAMILY FARM
AND THE POTENTIAL DUST REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING INTO PLAY NOW.
SECRETARY: UH, I WISH YOU HADN'T ASKED THE DUST QUESTION.
(LAUGHTER)
I MEAN THERE IS REALLY NOT, THERE IS NO EFFORT OF THE PART OF THE EPA TO REGULATE DUST. OK IT'S LIKE SPILLED MILK
THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR HAS SAID REPEATEDLY IN BOLD LETTERS, UNDERLINED, ITALICS,
WITH QUOTATION MARKS THERE IS NO INTENT TO REGULATE FARM DUST.
EVERY 5 YEARS CONGRESS DIRECTS EPA TO TAKE A LOOK AT PARTICULATE MATTER,
AN THEIR FOCUS IS ON PRIMARILY COARSE PARTICULATE MATTER. THE STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, INDUSTRY PRODUCES
AND THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PREMATURE DUST AS A RESULT
AND THERE ARE PROBABLY THINGS THAT OUGHT TO BE DONE THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
BUT THERE IS NO DESIRE TO DO THAT, AND SO FIRST AND FOREMOST TO YOUR QUESTION
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS IN A COUNTRY SIDE TO KNOW PRECISELY WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED
AND NOT NECESSARILY TO ALLOW FOLKS TO RAMP IT UP TO A POINT THAT IS NOT CONSISTANT WITH WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED
WE HAD THE SAME THING WITH SPILLED MILK, THE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW IF YOU KICK A BUCKET OF MILK OVER WHEN YOU
ARE MILKING THE COW, YOU KNOW, THE OLD WAY IF YOU KICK THE BUCKET OVER SOMEHOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A
CONTAINMENT FACILITY BECAUSE THERE IS OIL IN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS CRAZY, BUT THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT
TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN MORE FREQUENLY, WHAT I HAVE DONE, IS I HAVE ASKED THE EPA
IF THEY WOULDN'T MIND HAVING LISA JACKSON, THE ADMINISTRATOR, AND MYSELF
MEET WITH COMMODITY GROUPS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE MEET, SOME GROUPS QUARTERLY, SOME GROUPS
SEMI-ANNUALLY, WE BRING THE LEADERS OF THESE GROUPS IN AND SAY OK ASK AWAY, FIRE AWAY
CRITIZE AWAY, LETS HAVE A CONSERVATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING CONSIDERED.
AND LOOKED AT, OKAY? SO THAT DIALOGUE I THINK HAS HELPED EPA UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FARM, WE HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE EPA ADMINISTER COMING OUT TO THE FARM
AND ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON IN FARM COUNTRY BECAUSE AGAIN THERE IS A DISCONNECT
AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY SIDE.
SO MORE PERSONAL CONTACT, MORE COMMUNICATION I THINK WILL HELP, WILL HELP.
THE THIRD THING WE ARE DOING WITH EPA IS, AND THEN I'LL GET TO YOUR DEPARTMENT OF LABOR QUESTION.
IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS IN WHICH, WE CAN USE THE RESOURCES AT USDA THROUGH NRCS
IN TERMS OF INCOURAGING CONSERVATION, TO SEE IF WE COULD COUPLE THAT WITH AN AGREEMENT OR
THE ABILITY OF EPA TO BASICALLY DEEM PEOPLE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REGULATIONS
IF THEY FOLLOW CERTAIN CONSERVATION PRACTICES SO THAT WE SAY TO AN OPERATOR
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO INVEST AND WE ARE WILLING TO COST SHARE THROUGH OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
COULD WE GET THE EPA TO SAY, IF FARMS DO A, B, AND C DEEMED IN COMPLIANCE TO THIS REGULATION,
THIS REGULATION, THIS REGULATION, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEREFORE, THEY WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
SOMEBODY COMING IN A CHANGING THE RULES AND REQUIRING MORE IN THEIR INVESTMENT.
WE THINK THIS CONSEPT OF CERTAINTY IS ONE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE
ESPECIALLY IF CONSERVATION DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE TIGHT.
UH, IF THE BUDGET DOESN'T ALLOW US AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS IT HAS IN THE PAST
WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN LEVERAGE.
ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, I LITERALLY CALLED THE SECRETARY OF LABOR ABOUT THIS, AND I CALLED HER
HER TEAM, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDRENS SAFETY
AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RISKS AND DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH FARMING AND IN SOME CASES
THERE ARE PARTICULARILY DANGEROUS PRACTICES WHEN KIDS WORK AROUND GRAIN ELEVATORS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A
NUMBER OF SOPHICATION DEATHS OF PEOPLE JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY SHOULD KNOW.
SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, BUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE IS THAT THERE IS
A VALUE SYSTEM HERE THAT YOU ARE CREATING A REAL CONSERN ABOUT, AND THAT VALUE SYSTEM IS THE ABILITY
OF FAMILIES TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THE VALUE OF HARD WORK. AND THE REWARDS HARD WORK.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, I WASN'T RAISED ON A FARM BUT I HAVE SEEN ENOUGH FARM FAMILIES TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE THE TRACTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE AROUND A PIECE OF FARM MACHINERY. YOU, AS EVERY KID DOES, WILL DO SOMETHING STUPID.
(LAUGHTER)
IT WILL TAKE A NANO SECOND FOR THE GRANDFATHER, THE UNCLE, THE AUNT, THE GRANDMOTHER, THE DAD, THE MOM
TO BASICALLY TAKE YOU BY THE COLLAR AND SHAKE YOU A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, HEY, WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS REALLY STUPID.
AND IF YOU DO IT AGAIN YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND IF YOU DO IT AGAIN
YOU COULD LOOSE AN ARM, OR YOU COULD LOOSE A LEG, OR YOU COULD PUT SOMEBODY ELSE AT RISK
DON'T DO THIS. THAT GETS INBRAINED, THAT LESSON GETS LEARNED IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY.
RIGHT? BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HARD, YOU GET A LITTLE CASH FROM MOM OR DAD
OR GRANDDAD BECAUSE YOU WORKED ON THE FARM AND YOU GET THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN HARD WORK AND THE CASH THAT YOU'VE GOT IN YOUR POCKET
AND THAT'S A VALUE SYSTEM THAT IS IMPORTANT. OKAY. SO AS A RESULT OF THAT CONVERSATION
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, BASICALLY, IN A SENSE, PULLED THAT PART OF THE RULE RELATED TO FAMILY FARMS AND IS TAKING A
A VERY LONG LOOK AT IT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW DO WE CREATE ANY KIND OF EXCEPTION OR LIMITATION
SO THAT WE ARE NOT INTERFERRING WITH THAT VALUE SYSTEM, AND THEY HAVE DELAYED
THE IMPLIMINTATION OF ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THE RULE UNTIL THEY UNDERSTAND FULLY AND COMPLETELY WHAT
CHORES THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE INTEREFERRING WITH THAT ARE NOT REALLY RISKY AND WHAT CHORES
ARE POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
AND ALSO, THE LAST THING IS, THERE ARE COMMECIAL SIZED OPERATIONS THAT USE A LOT OF IMMIGRANT LABOR
AND SOMETIMES THOSE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES HAVE NO PLACE TO TAKE THE CHILDREN
SO THE CHILDREN END UP COMING WITH MOM OR DAD DURING THE FARM LABOR AND EVENTUALLY SOMEHOW THEY
GET TO BE WORKING IN THE FIELDS AND THAT'S AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY MAY BE AROUND MACHINERY
MOM OR DAD MAY BE IN ONE PART OF THE FIELD AND THEY MAY BE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD
AND THERE MAY NOT BE ANYONE THERE TO GRAB THEM BY THE COLLAR AND SAY, HEY IF YOU DO THAT AGAIN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM
SO IT'S COMPLICATE, BUT TO THE CREDIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THEY HAVE TAKEN A STEP BACK WHICH
IS IMPORTANT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY DECIDE TO TAKE A STEP
FORWARD, THEY DO IN A WAY THAT MAKES SAFETY FIRST, BUT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE VALUE SYSTEM
OR THE TRADITIONS THAT ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE IN RURAL AREAS.
I SEE THE PRESIDENT IS, I'M NOW HAVE TO SEE THE MICROPHONE.
PRESIDENT: LET'S GIVE SECRETARY VILSACK ANOTHER WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)