In a sprawling, diverse U.S. family farm community, questions are being asked about President-elect Joe Biden’s choice of Tom Vilsack to lead the USDA in the next administration.
Like most of his colleagues around the country, Joe Logan, president of the Ohio Farmers Union has often been asked about the wisdom of appointing Vilsack a second time. The former and likely future Ag Secretary had represented dairy processors and exporters for the past few years, so many small farm advocates had become concerned that he might be too close to “Big Ag”.
State and National Farmers Union organizations have been among those who had fought against corporate concentration and mega mergers in the ranks of the nation’s seed and feed and food processing businesses. These global Ag corporations have taken over markets, putting the squeeze on farmers at the bottom of the supply chain and increased prices to consumers.
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