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Vilsack identifies issues for successor

USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his successors will need to be prepared for significant changes in land ownership.

“If you look at the age of the farm owners and land owners in this country, you know that there’s going to be a significant generational change.  Are we prepared for it?  Do we know the consequences of that transfer?  Do we know what values those folks that will be owning land in the future will have?”

Speaking at the National Farmers Union Convention in Minneapolis Monday, Vilsack says USDA is organizing a conference to address land tenure, workforce and climate issues.

“Major issues that we are in the process now of just beginning to deal with that I think future administrations and future farm bills will have to address in a very significant way.”

Vilsack was appointed by President Obama as the 30^th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2009.

(Audio courtesy of USDA)