About one-hundred farmers and farm-related business owners gathered in the University of Missouri’s Delta Research Center in Portageville on Tuesday to welcome U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Vilsack is traveling around the country, holding question-and-answers forums with rural residents.
Farmers in the Bootheal were concerned about carbon cap and trade regulations that are under consideration to combat climate change. Several farmers were worried that cap and trade would cause them to spend more on inputs on their farms. Vilsack contends that cap and trade could provide Missouri farmers with increased income opportunities.
“The key for agriculture is not necessarily to take a resistance towards the concept, it’s to make sure there’s a profit opportunity in it,” he says. “This is different than being a power company; it’s different than being a manufacturer. There is no profit opportunity for the power company. There really isn’t. They just have to figure out how to do with less than what they currently are doing on the cap, where they’re going have to buy credits. You’re going to be in the position to being able to sell those credits.”
Secretary Vilsack believes that cap and trade regulation should allow farmers to offset their responsibility by investing in other practices that help them reduce their responsibility towards the cap.
Ethanol production was another major concern for some farmers, who fear that President Barack Obama favors cellulosic ethanol over corn-based biofuels. Vilsack pointed out that the President does not want to end corn-based ethanol; in fact, he wants to increase the blend rate from 10 to 15 percent ethanol. Additionally, he sees a new future for corn-based ethanol.
“Instead of using the kernel, we use the cob,” Vilsack notes. “We can use corn stover, for example, and there is research being done right now in Emmittsburgh, Iowa on that kind of conversion system. So there may be opportunities to actually benefit more from corn than we see today.”
Vilsack pointed out that in order to get things done, he needs the support of urban and suburban legislators … not just rural ones. That’s why it’s important to show them that money is going where there is a need. “So I think that it is important for us to make sure that: A) people who need the help get it, and B) that we manage the program in a way that doesn’t look like people are having their pockets lined with substantial sums of money, which is a criticism that you often hear.”
Vilsack adds that it is important for urban dwellers to understand the challenges faced by farmers. This understanding helps build support for the USDA and for federal programs that aid farm families. He mentioned that it is crucial urbanites to “understand how many farmers require off-farm income. And they understand that means they’re working two fulltime jobs. And that means their spouse is working on the farm and off the farm. And that means the kids are working. Now all of a sudden people in cities, who are also working two jobs, now all of a sudden they can relate.”
Following the question-and-answer forum, Steve Morrison of the Stoddard County Farm Service Agency said that he felt pretty good about Vilsack’s answers. He says that even though a lot of people may not have liked what the secretary said, he was able to convey that he understands the issues and their concerns. “It was good that he come down here. I think it’s good for him to see what we have and get a better understanding of what people down here think,” Morrison said.
Farm machinery dealer and rice farmer Paul Colhms thought it was worthwhile forum. Other than the rain that has pounded the region, Colhms finds continued viability for agricultural families to be his primary concern. “We produce a pretty safe and abundant food supply pretty cheaply and people have got to be able to make a living doing it,” Colhms said. “So to the extent that USDA has to get involved, I guess we don’t need to be ashamed of that.”
Portageville was Secretary Vilsack’s second forum in a series of rural stops throughout the country. His first stop was in Brush, Colorado.
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