Dear Agriculture,
Less than a month after his appointment, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is already calling for policies that echo our efforts to stop the loss of agricultural land, support local food and conserve our land and water resources. Secretary Vilsack's openness to new ideas that promote a better understanding of where our food comes from—as well as his commitment to increased diversity in our food production system—will help lead to healthier citizens, a better environment and new opportunities for farmers.
Please sign a letter of support to Secretary Vilsack today and thank him for his strong start to addressing these important issues.
Last Thursday, Secretary Vilsack literally “broke new ground” by tearing up a tract of pavement at USDA headquarters that will be replaced with a green landscape. His pledge to establish gardens at every USDA office throughout the world—from window boxes to full-fledged plots—is a pledge we can carry to our own homes and communities!
In a monumental show of support for farmland protection, Secretary Vilsack also called upon fellow government officials and citizens to join him in replacing excessive asphalt with natural landscapes, along with building community gardens and protecting our natural resources. His fast action on making a commitment to protecting farms from development comes at a critical time for farms and farmland across the country.
Secretary Vilsack is also presenting a new vision for agriculture by proposing new ways to encourage and reward farmers’ efforts to protect the environment. His plan includes offering “green payments” for farms of all sizes that use their land to help absorb carbon and provide clean water and other environmental benefits. These incentives could reinvigorate the agriculture sector and reward farmers for the environmental benefits they provide.
We compliment Secretary Vilsack for his early and earnest commitment to healthy farms, healthy food and healthy communities. Please join me in sending a letter of support to Secretary Vilsack thanking him for the steps he is taking to protect our farm and ranch land and promote a greener future through American agriculture.
Sincerely,
Jon Scholl
President
American Farmland Trust
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