Secretary of Agriculture

Obama's Team Includes Dangerous Biotech "Yes Men"

Jeffrey Smith | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Joseph Cortright, Gmos, Transition Team, Tom Vilsack, Dennis Wolff, Fda, Barack Obama, Monsanto, Rbgh, Secretary of Agriculture, Genetically Engineered Food, Michael Taylor, Unbossed, Dan Glickman, Food Safety, Genetically Modified Food, Obama Transition, Obama GMOs, Bovine Growth Hormone, Usda, Food and Drug Administration, Steven Druker, Oregon, Genetic Engineering, Rbst, Obama Usda, Green News
Jeffrey Smith

Instead of giving us change and hope, biotech "Yes Men" on Obama's team may prolong the hypnotic "group think" that has been institutionalized over three previous administrations.

Read Post

All Eyes On Iowa: An Interview With Democratic Challenger for Secretary of Agriculture, Candidate Francis Thicke

Mike Ragogna | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Secretary of Agriculture, Sustainable Living, Francis Thicke, Michael Pollan, Dupont, Monsanto, Democratic Party, Biofuels, Beth Dalbey, Syngenta, Candidate, Big Agriculture, Jack DeCoster, Politics News
Mike Ragogna

One of the most important races that you haven't heard about yet in this election cycle is currently unfolding in America's Heartland. Thicke is turning heads, shining a light on current unsustainable food-production practices and oversight.

Read Post

Vilsack Indicates Openness To Colorado Exception To Roadless Rule

The Colorado Independent | John Tomasic | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Bill Clinton, Colorado Roadless, Hayman Fire, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, Wildfires, George W. Bush, National Parks, Denver News

DENVER -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday gave the strongest indication to date that the draft of Colorado's roadless rule, which all...

Read Whole Story

Wildfire Outbreaks Spark Debate Over Roads In National Parks

The Colorado Independent | David O. Williams | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: National Park Fires, National Park Roads, Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Ritter, Tom Vilsack, Colorado Roadless Rule, Colorado Fires, Denver News

VAIL -- A small but scary wildfire that broke out in the national forest above West Vail Friday afternoon perfectly underscored the ongoing debate bet...

Read Whole Story

The Battle Over Sliced Apples: New York Senators Gillibrand and Aubertine Take Secretary Vilsack to Task on School Food

Paula Crossfield | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Processed Food, Secretary of Agriculture, Farm Bill, Food Access, Tom Vilsack, New Administration, School Food, Food Policy, Usda, Kirsten Gillibrand, Darrel Aubertine, Value-Added, Green News
Paula Crossfield

No, Gillibrand and Aubertine aren't lobbying for the Corn Refiners Association -- they are pushing for local food.

Read Post

Not a Woman in the Picture

Paul Jenkins | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama's Cabinet, Al Gore, White House, Women's Rights, Sweden, George W. Bush, Sex Trade, Asia, Missouri, Sarah Palin, Same-Sex Marriage, South Africa, Angola, Kay Hagan, Dan Quayle, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Nancy Pelosi, Racism, Nigeria, Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of the Treasury, African-American Issues, Latin America, Speaker of the House, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Netherlands, Minnesota, Barack Obama, Secretary of Energy, Condolleezza Rice, Secretary of Agriculture, Janet Napolitano, Jimmy Carter, Hillary Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Claire McCaskill, Secretary of State, Women's Issues, Civil Rights, Arizona, Laura Bush, Gay Rights, Vietnam, Slavery, Sexism, Secretary of Defense, Senate Majority Leader, Vice President, Bill Clinton, Islam, John McCain, Africa, Belgium, Secretary of Transportation, Homeland Security, Attorney General, North Carolina, Colombia, Cia Director, Cambodia, Secretary of Interior, Death Penalty, Gay Issues, Politics News
Paul Jenkins

Is it a coincidence that in the world's largest economy, whose military expenditure accounts for half the global total, the most senior posts dealing with money and war are still reserved for men?

Read Post

Maybe Vilsack Won't Suck?

Kerry Trueman | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Monsanto, Biofuels, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, Obama's Cabinet, Denise O'Brien, Agribusiness, Sustainable Agriculture, Ethanol, President Obama, Obama Picks Tom Vilsack Agriculture Secretary, Iowa Governor Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack Agriculture Secretary, Obama Cabinet, Tom Vilsack and Barack Obama, Green News
Kerry Trueman

I honestly don't know what to make of the Vilsack nomination, so I asked Denise O'Brien, the organic farmer who ran for Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture in 2006, to share her invaluable Iowan insights.

Read Post

Vilsack Best Possible Secretary of Agriculture

Jennifer Donahue | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Blagojevich, Secretary of Agriculture, Breaking Political News, Illionois Senate Seat, Obama Appointments, Obama Transition, Vilsack, Politics News
Jennifer Donahue

Gov. Vilsack has integrity through and through. He is impeccable with his word, and is open about his thoughts. He also has an incredibly unusual quality for a politician (if he even is one): he listens.

Read Post

'Yes We Can' Create a Sane Food Policy in the U.S.

Bruce Friedrich | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Charlie Stenholm, Whole Foods, Time Magazine, Pew Foundation, Center for Public Integrity, John Carlin, Pew Commission, Larry Summers, Joe Klein, Barack Obama, Clinton Administration, Farm Bill, Michael Pollan, John Salazar, Colin Peterson, Union of Concerned Scientists, Dwight Eisenhower, Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture, John Podesta, Rosa DeLauro, Obama Transition, National Economic Council, Eric Schlosser, Bill Moyers, Politics News
Bruce Friedrich

In January, we will have a president who understands and cares about the broader implications of our food policy. This will be an impressive first.

Read Post

We Need Change Animals Can Believe In

Michael Markarian | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of the Interior, Obama Transition, Barack Obama, Animals, President, Oregon, Green News
Michael Markarian

it's the Agriculture post that perhaps holds the greatest promise for -- and the greatest threat to -- animal welfare.

Read Post