WASHINGTON, D.C. – While president-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary angered some farm organizations who feuded with Vilsack during the Obama years, others praised the appointment. 

Vilsack served as Secretary of Agriculture (2008-2015) under President Barack Obama. 

A former governor of Iowa, Vilsack advised Biden on rural and agricultural issues and campaigned frequently for him. As agricultural secretary, Vilsack was a proponent of biofuels, larger farm exports, rural economic development and public nutrition programs. Vilsack has argued that Democrats must build support in rural America (which now votes heavily for Republicans) to assure national success. Rural populists, yearning for a fire-breathing platform, fault Vilsack as too moderate politically.

Despite some rocky issues during Obama’s eight-year tenure, the largest U.S. farm groups welcomed Vilsack last week as an experienced leader for the recovery from the trade war and the pandemic.

“Tom Vilsack understands that the agriculture sector is far more complex than most people understand,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “He believes in a ‘big tent’ philosophy that supports all types of production, and understands the importance of respecting farmers and ranchers as partners worthy of support in the race to achieve sustainability goals.

“Tom and I built a good relationship during his first term as Ag Secretary and we’ve built on that relationship in his current role with the U.S. Dairy Export Council. I look forward to sitting down with him again to continue our conversation on how to address the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture and rural communities.”

Also in Vilsack’s corner is the National Farmers Union (NFU).

“Vilsack has the necessary qualifications and experience to guide the USDA through turbulent times,” said Rob Larew, NFU president. Larew is going to ask Vilsack for policies that give farmers a stronger hand in dealing with processors, reduce overproduction, advance racial equity and help the sector adapt to climate change.

“The secretary’s obligation is not just to serve farmers,” Larew added. “It’s also to serve the American public at large. We would urge Vilsack to expand nutrition assistance programs to cope with hunger during the pandemic.”

Luis Guardia, president of the Food Research and Action Center, an anti-hunger group, said, “With the arrival of Vilsack, the country can quickly implement a more comprehensive response to the hunger crisis.”

The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) called the appointment of Vilsack a “big improvement” over current USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

“Black farmers had legislative success during the Obama administration, but far too little was done during his tenure to address the long legacy of discrimination against Black farmers,” said NFBA president John Boyd.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) also supports Vilsack.

“As both the former governor of Iowa, the top pork-producing state in the country, he understands how critical a vibrant American farm sector is to the rural and overall U.S. economy, and the importance of keeping consumers supplied with an affordable source of nutritious protein.” said NPPC President Howard Roth, a hog farmer from Wauzeka, Wis. “We look forward to working with him on issues of importance to U.S. pork producers, including expanding exports, strengthening biosecurity at our borders to ensure African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases remain outside the country, and ensuring USDA oversight of gene-edited livestock.”

Vilsack’s nomination will be considered by the U.S. Senate when the chamber convenes in January.