Tom Vilsack Discusses Progress Made During Tenure

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is down to his final months with the Obama Administration before President-Elect Trump takes office.

Looking back, Vilsack said he believes they have worked and left the organization better than when they started.

He pointed to farm credit loan expansion, upgrades to risk management, efficiency within the office, new avenues for beginning farmers and ranchers, “And conservation, a record number of acres enrolled. I think we’ve done a good job of leveraging taxpayer resources with the Regional Conservation Partnership program with over 200 projects being funded. And I’m proud of the fact that we’ve doubled the number of operators in this country that are utilizing the benefit of renewable energy. I think from a market perspective, we’re leaving things a little better than we found them in terms of creating new opportunities.”

Vilsack said the next steps could include agriculture and advocacy, but mostly he wants to spend time with his family.