World News – USA – Biden nomination for USDA throws Vilsack back into battle over food policy

President-elect

Joe Bidens

This week’s nomination from former U. . S.. . Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture

Tom Vilsack

To re-lead the agency, a well-known Farm Belt decision maker is hired to lead a department vital to the survival of the coronavirus pandemic for farmers and hungry Americans.

The USDA’s dual role – overseeing food aid to Americans and regulating food production – is at the center of renewed debate over the agency’s focus as the economic toll of Covid-19 has deepened food insecurity in the US. S.. . while the challenges for farmers are exacerbated.

Mr. . Vilsack led the USDA through the president

Barack Obamas

two terms and has traction with both agricultural and food circles. He also has a steadfast relationship with Lord. Biden, who stands up for Mr.. . Vilsack as an experienced agricultural official who, if confirmed, could immediately take over the management of the sprawling agency, according to an interim spokesman.

Mr. . Vilsack’s nomination received praise and criticism from both agriculture and food security groups, signaling the impending battles for the agency as it leads farmers and consumers out of the pandemic.

« The challenges are amazing, » said

Andrew Novaković,

a Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics at Cornell University who worked for the USDA during Mr.. . Vilsack’s tenure.

The USDA, with a 2020 budget of around $ 153 billion, oversees almost all aspects of the country’s food production. It regulates genetically modified seeds, insures farmers’ harvests, promotes agricultural exports and inspects slaughterhouses.

The USDA is also monitoring how Americans eat and helping to put U down. S.. . Nutritional Guidelines and Administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which was previously administered through food brands. Mr. Biden was pressured by some consumer groups to nominate someone to focus on food aid after the pandemic sent U.. S.. . Unemployment was at its highest since World War II and families came together in food banks across the country.

What should be the priorities for the agriculture department under Tom Vilsack? Join the following conversation.

« Secretary Vilsacks has a proven track record in prioritizing federal nutritional programs and supporting U. . S.. . Growers and growers will be instrumental in helping communities that are now hurt, ”he said

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot,

Managing Director of the famine relief organization Feeding America. Mr. Vilsack served on the board of directors of his national office after his tenure with USDA.

However, the farmers and workers’ organization Family Farm Action said Mr.. . Vilsack had a record of supplying large farm and food companies and raised questions about how he would prioritize the struggling communities.

Mr. . Vilsack is committed to promoting justice and inclusion in all of the agency’s missions, said a transition spokesman in Biden.

Since the beginning of 2017 Mr.. Vilsack was the managing director of the U. . S.. . Dairy Export Council, a farmer-funded group. Returning to the USDA would put mr. Vilsack becomes the second longest secretary in the agency’s history.

Mr. . Vilsack, 69 years old, was born in an orphanage and adopted in 1951. A native of Pittsburgh, he practiced as a lawyer in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and was mayor of that city and of the Iowa Senate. Mr. Vilsack then served as governor of Iowa for eight years, stepping down in 2007.

As secretary, Mr.. Vilsack would take on the task of supporting the U further. S.. . Agricultural sector. When he left the USDA in early 2017, the U. . S.. . The agricultural economy was faltering and farm net income fell 40% from a record high four years ago as successive jerk crops swelled supply and depressed prices.

Since then, agricultural markets have been struck during President Trump’s trade battles with China, Mexico and Canada, prompting the Trump administration to hike state payments to farmers to historic highs.

In an interview in September, Mr.. Vilsack said the U. . S.. . The agricultural sector’s current reliance on government aid in the event of weather disruptions due to trade disputes and the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need for new measures to support a more resilient agricultural sector.

« I don’t think most farmers want government payments, » said Mr. . Vilsack, then an advisor to the Biden campaign.

Mr. . Novaković, the professor emeritus, said the USDA often lacks direct control over policy decisions affecting some of the most sensitive issues in agriculture such as trade, labor and climate change. « This is where a personal relationship with Joe Biden could be particularly helpful, » he said.

Mr. . Vilsack said in September that under a Biden administration, the USDA could set up regional food supply markets and incentivize farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices.

Agricultural trade groups representing corn and soybean producers as well as meat packers and organic farmers welcomed Mr.. Vilsacks nomination. They said his previous leadership of the agency would help farmers cope with the pandemic.

Groups representing minority farmers and food chain workers said they were concerned about how much Mr.. . Vilsack would do anything to move their cause forward and would point to previous criticisms of the agency’s treatment of minorities.

A Biden interim spokesman said sir. Vilsack increased lending to disadvantaged farmers during his USDA tenure and is committed to recognizing and eliminating discriminatory practices.

John Boyd,

President of the National Black Farmers Association, who stood up for Mr.. . Biden and worked with his transition team saying, “I wanted someone new. ”

Joe Biden, Tom Vilsack, Marcia Fudge, United States Department of Agriculture, Republican Party