Des Moines Register writer Philip Brasher reported yesterday that, "Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack today said that he won't be the next agriculture secretary, ending speculation that an Iowan would snag the post important to a large swath of the state's economy.
"In an e-mail, Vilsack said he had never been contacted by aides to President-elect Barack Obama about that position or any other."
With respect to the issues confronting the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Reuters writer Charles Abbott reported on Friday that, "President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for U.S. agriculture secretary will face daunting tasks ranging from tightening farm subsidy rules to improving school meals, lawmakers and farm groups said on Friday.
"During his campaign, Obama backed a $250,000 a year 'hard' cap on subsidies to replace the current, porous limits. He also supported speedy development of new-generation biofuels to supplement corn-based ethanol, blamed for higher food prices.
"Also looming are questions of how to shelter the farm sector from the financial turmoil slowing the U.S. economy and whether to expand school meal programs."
