Vilsack touches on changes during Las Cruces visit

The need for changes in the economics of the dairy was addressed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday during a visit to Las Cruces. Vilsack addressed a crowd of farmers and other agriculturists at the Do-a Ana County fairgrounds, the site of this week's Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo. It was his 21st stop on a "listening tour," in which he said he's gathering feedback from the country's agricultural producers to take back to President Barack Obama. Vilsack acknowledged the difficulties dairy farmers are facing, not only in New Mexico, but across the country. The USDA is working on some short-term fixes, but "we need a long-term solution." Attendee Sharon Lombardi, director of the Dairy Producers of New Mexico, told Vilsack that the industry needs a new pricing formula, and though policy changes are needed, "we need to be careful what comes out." During a question-and-answer period, John Swapp, who said he's a rancher in southwestern New Mexico, asked Vilsack to back changes to the Endangered Species Act, which he argued is being used by environmentalists to "put us out of business." He cited concerns about the reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf into New Mexico. Vilsack said the wolf reintroduction program falls under the jurisdiction of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, but he said he'd "carry the message back."...read more