U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack used his time as keynote speaker during a symposium in Peoria Thursday to tout the new Federal Farm Bill. Vilsack addressed "The future of Midwest Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability" at Bradley University.
The Ag Secretary stressed that 98 percent of the U-S population doesn't understand the scope of what the bill means to the other 2 percent of the country which produces all the food. He says the bill is more than a Farms Bill. Vilsack says it involves jobs, foods, environment and conservation.
Vilsack says the emerging renewable energy markets based in ag production help defer reliance on Middle East oil. He stressed the need to appreciate the 16 to 17 percent of Americans living in rural areas, mainly relying on farming for jobs, need a farm bill to keep the economy strong.
Vilsack says he refers to the 6 year farm bill plan, to a more accurate description, calling it the Farm, Jobs, Environment and Food Bill. Bradley's Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service hosted the event with assistance from the Pekin's Dirksen Congressional Center.
