While I would have much rather been in Texas last week, I spent the week with my colleagues of commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture from all 50 states for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) mid year meeting.
Both Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson addressed our group together as a panel. Seeing EPA and USDA speaking together might have caused anxiety for some, however, we know many issues vital to American agriculture and our environment will be decided in the next few years and it is essential agriculture have a seat at the environmental policy table.
In his remarks, Secretary Vilsack stated he and President Obama would focus on the following priorities that will positively impact agriculture and our country as a whole:
· Improving income opportunity for agricultural producers
· Advancing more nutritious food
· Focusing on new energy opportunities
I look forward to working with our D.C. representatives on these and many more issues, but it sure feels good to be back home in Texas.
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