Vilsack_visit.htm

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack meets with stakeholders in Kansas City

On Friday, Jan. 27, MARC hosted a roundtable with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. More than two dozen local stakeholders and leaders from agriculture, biosciences, animal health and other related fields discussed current issues and concerns with the secretary.

Vilsack highlighted ways in which the Department of Agriculture is helping to reinvigorate the U.S. economy by promoting new technologies, infrastructure improvements and energy efficiency. For example, the USDA is working with the U.S. Navy to research new options for aviation biofuels. Vilsack said that even with recent budget reductions, the department has posted record numbers of farm loans, home loans, grants to support community facilities and acres devoted to conservation projects.

The secretary invited participants to share issues of concern in the Greater Kansas City area, as well as Missouri and Kansas. Some of the topics discussed included the new National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility planned for Manhattan, Kan.; the need for stronger local food processing facility and supply chain infrastructure; watershed protection and flood recovery issues; immigration and seasonal workers; regulations governing children who work on family farms; school nutrition programs and more. Vilsack promised to share these local concerns with other cabinet and administration officials.

More photos are available on MARC's Flickr page.

600 Broadway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64105-1659
816/474-4240
Fax: 816/421-7758

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