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Tom Vilsack, a.k.a. Mr. Monsanto, is Biden's pick for Agriculture Secretary. He was secretary of agriculture under Obama.
Branko Marcetic ( @BMarchetich) previously summarized for @inthesetimesmag how Vilsack earned the moniker "Mr. Monsanto."
While in Obama admin, he looked out for interests of agriculture and biotech corporations, especially when it came to GMOs.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/democratic-party-platform-dnc-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-task-forces
While in Obama admin, he looked out for interests of agriculture and biotech corporations, especially when it came to GMOs.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/democratic-party-platform-dnc-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-task-forces
Tom Philpott ( @tomphilpott ) reported in 2011 on Vilsack's total cave-in to biotech genetically modified alfalfa from Monsanto was approved without any restrictions.
https://grist.org/article/2011-01-27-in-stunning-reversal-usda-chief-vilsack-greenlights-monsantos-al/
https://grist.org/article/2011-01-27-in-stunning-reversal-usda-chief-vilsack-greenlights-monsantos-al/
Two days before Vilsack was reported as Biden's pick for Agriculture Secretary, @stltoday published a major investigative report on dicamba weedkillers and how Monsanto knew they would cause "large-scale damage to fields" in America. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/state-and-regional/buy-it-or-else-inside-monsanto-and-basf-s-moves-to-force-dicamba-on-farmers/article_002f5e83-004d-52de-a686-eef5cb108192.html?utm_medium=email&mc_cid=e026837c09&mc_eid=1ef5fc394d
What the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is even more crucial to read now, as it contains details that point to how the Agriculture Department will continue to operate like the Department of Monsanto.
Vilsack supports corporate consolidation. He backed the merger between Bayer and Monsanto and claimed it would not stifle "innovation," ignoring how it would result in skyrocketing seed prices for farmers. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-09-16/tom-vilsack-on-bayer-monsanto-deal-and-consolidation
Vilsack is presently the president and CEO of US Dairy Export Council.
As @ddayen put it, the group includes "large corporate dairy interests, which have dominated the industry and destroyed family farms." https://readsludge.com/2020/08/18/farmers-reject-bidens-pro-corporate-rural-advisers/
As @ddayen put it, the group includes "large corporate dairy interests, which have dominated the industry and destroyed family farms." https://readsludge.com/2020/08/18/farmers-reject-bidens-pro-corporate-rural-advisers/
Vilsack is a key lobbyist for industry that has fueled a suicide epidemic among dairy farmers.
"About 4,600 dairy farms have closed every year, with some dairy companies now including list of suicide prevention hotlines in their envelopes with farmers’ checks," Dayen reported.
"About 4,600 dairy farms have closed every year, with some dairy companies now including list of suicide prevention hotlines in their envelopes with farmers’ checks," Dayen reported.
Philpott's done some good tracking of Vilsack. He "loves crops genetically engineered to tolerate weed killers."
This was good for corporations like Monsanto, who see increases in herbicide resistance as business opportunity.
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/07/hillary-clinton-vilsack-veep-food-agriculture-companies/
This was good for corporations like Monsanto, who see increases in herbicide resistance as business opportunity.
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/07/hillary-clinton-vilsack-veep-food-agriculture-companies/
Vilsack privatized inspection of poultry kill lines. He wanted to increase number of birds killed per minute from 140 to 175 but failed.
It deeply upset food safety and workers' rights groups. But the push showed Big Agriculture he would always serve them first and foremost.
It deeply upset food safety and workers' rights groups. But the push showed Big Agriculture he would always serve them first and foremost.
