Vilsack Says Climate Smart Agriculture Will Empower Producers

As the Obama administration announced the launch of the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said long term global food security depends on us acting together now. The launch was announced Thursday during the United Nations Climate Summit in New York. The Alliance is an effort to promote greater international engagement on ways agriculture can help mitigate the impact of climate change, according to USDA. Secretary Vilsack said farmers and ranchers in the U.S are feeling the production challenges of climate change now from severe flooding to extended droughts and new pest and disease.

Further, Secretary Vilsack stated this offers the “opportunity to share knowledge, make investments and develop policies that will empower all producers to adapt to climate change and to mitigate its consequences.” National Corn Growers Association Corn Board member Paul Taylor, a farmer from Esmond, Illinois, participated in the meeting. Taylor said "with increasing public focus turning to the climate, farmers must take a seat at the table to ensure our interests and concerns on this topic are accurately represented, Representatives from American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association and the National Farmers Union also participated on behalf of U.S. farmers.

Source:  NAFB News