As we wrap up our look into the Senate Ag Committee?s hearing on climate change, we hear from a voice all too familiar with the industry, former United States Agriculture Secretary and one-time Governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack.
Audio: Full Testimony from former Ag Secretary & Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack is now the President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. He stated that addressing climate change is also going to pay dividends in the global marketplace. Vilsack says there is increasing demand from consumers for sustainably produced products.
Vilsack says a report by the United Nations? Food & Agriculture Organization shows Dairy Farmers in North America are the only ones in the world driving down their environmental impact.
Vilsack says while this is good, ?good? shouldn?t be good enough. He outlined a few options to get agriculture down to a net zero emission operation. However, it must be economically conducive for farmers to make changes.
Vilsack says if changes can be made cost-effective for farmers, there will be much less resistance to practice changes.
