Vilsack tells row-crop farmers he's 'a little nervous' but appears to make a good impression

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack "appeared to hit a home run" with his speech at the Commodity Classic meeting of row-crop farmers, the largest such audience to which he has spoken, Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant writes in an e-mail to her subscribers. "Vilsack says farmers don’t get enough thanks for what they do, and he believes USDA should be spearheading efforts to help the public realize the importance of agriculture," Delta Farm Press reports.

The former Iowa governor, whose efforts to put tighter limits on commodity-program payments to wealthy farmers have been defeated by the farm lobby and its allies in Congress, was "feeling a bit nervous about speaking to production agriculture," Agri-Pulse reporter Stewart Doan said in an audio report. Doan's observation was based on Vilsack's minor flub and his ad-lib reaction to it. He lauded the farmers for "the surpluses you create in trade that allow us to create wealth in this communi -- in this country. So I think I'm speakin' to a lot of gold-medal winners here today and that's why I'm a little nervous."

Agri-Pulse has a recording of the 30-minute speech, other reports on Commodity Classic, and stories on other recent speeches by Vilsack and his recent appearance before an appropriations subcommittee in which he outlined a "different direction as it relates to rural development." For that report, by Jon harsch, click here. For a video from Delta Farm Press of Vilsack's remarks to reporters, click here.