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Cabinet positions important to agriculture

Bundled up under 6 layers of clothing in my deer stand earlier this week, I had many hours to consider all of the things happening in the world today that will, or at least have potential, to impact those of us who live and work in rural America. Perhaps there are issues more important, but I cannot think of any more timely than that of which I write today.

Even before Barrack Obama became President-elect of these United States of America, every agricultural and political pundit in the country had offered up a heaping helping of opinion on who will be picked to serve as ag secretary in this new administration. I am not going to waste space by listing those names – you’ve heard them and seen them already. No surprises and none that raise red flags – for me anyway.

I agree wholeheartedly that this is an important cabinet position for American agriculture. But friends, I will tell you that I honestly believe we need to pay as much attention to the selection of administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency.

If someone like Robert Kennedy, Jr., well-known for his disdain for modern animal agriculture practices, were to be dubbed administrator of EPA, it would be a very bad day for us all. The environmental lawyer/lobbyist spent months back in 2002 telling crowds that large-scale hog producers were a greater threat to the United States and democracy than bin Laden’s terrorist network.

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down for what we in the media refer to as a “one-on-one” interview with the third person to serve as ag secretary under President Bush. I have been disappointed with Ed Schafer’s efforts to work with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and instead of talking about him behind his back anymore, I decided to ask Secretary Schafer about that relationship. Here it is in transcript form, word for word:

Cyndi Young: One thing we have seen happen on your watch, although it has been building for some time, is the impact of organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the animal welfare/animal rights movement. What is the solution, in working toward a positive future for animal agriculture in this country?

Secretary Shafer: I think the solution always is to have the open door, transparent policies where – I know it sounds trite to say – but people can work together. When we got involved with some issues with the Humane Society, we found that 80 – 85% of the time we agree. There are areas where you often don’t or never will agree because you’ve got different focus and different mission, but generally, you are coming from the same place, the same area, and want to see the same results.

I think it behooves us to work together, to sit down and understand where we’re coming from. You don’t have to promise to agree to come in and visit. We have the same outcomes in mind. We might want to get there in a little different ways or at a different speed, but we need to be focusing on how to provide the largest, safest, most abundant food supply in the world and do so in a proper manner.

It doesn’t do us any good to spend the money and have the lawsuits in the courts and attorney’s fees and all the time and effort it takes to do that. I think we need to get together, look at common goals and try to work together. I think we can.

Cyndi Young: Mr. Secretary, Wayne Pacelle is a vegan. These are people who don’t eat meat and do not want us to eat meat, either. That is their mission. Can you sit down at the table with someone – with people like that and work together for a positive animal agriculture industry in this country?

Secretary Schafer: I think I have developed a good relationship with Wayne Pacelle over the short period of time that I’m here. There are areas where we will never agree, because I am a meat eater, and enjoy my steak, and he’s not, and that is fine.

The issue here is how far you can bend society to your own will. I’m not interested in doing that. I’m interested in providing that supply out there. Let the consumers make the choice. We’re not forcing anybody to eat our meat or egg products. We are providing opportunity, providing choice. Consumers should be making the choice – not Ed Schafer or Wayne Pacelle. Our efforts are to move forward and consumers always have the final say either as a voter with their vote in the ballot box or with their money at the supermarket. I think we (HSUS and USDA) can develop good relationships and come together with common agreements and understandings and do as much as we can together.

This is where the transcript ends, although the interview continued as we talked about other issues.

Friends, we must remember: Wayne Pacelle is a vegan. His ultimate goal is to eliminate animal agriculture in this country. It doesn’t make any difference what we do, this man does not want you or me or Ed Schafer to eat eggs, dairy, meat or poultry. HSUS, my friends, is a much greater threat to agriculture in this country than our fine ag secretary understands.