AGRIBUSINESS:Tough love for Agriculture

 

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack had tough love for agriculture at the 2012 Farm Journal Forum, asking attendees rhetorically why the farm bill debate was allowed to go on for so long. 

 

His answer was that rural America is shrinking and becoming less relevant to national interests because of a pervasive “preservation mindset,” which he contrasted with a more ideal “growth mindset.” Part of the growth mindset, he says, is improving local food systems to help smaller producers.

 

Unless agriculture reverses the trend, Vilsack says the influence of rural areas will continue to dwindle.