MITCHELL, S.D. -- Tom Vilsack's nomination as the next secretary of agriculture has spurred a wave of praise throughout South Dakota.
An Iowan, we assume, will understand the specific troubles and issues that come with raising corn, cows and commodities specific to Great Plains states such as the North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.
It wasn't that long ago that a peach farmer from California was at the head of the Department of Agriculture. Ann Veneman served from 2001 to 2005 before resigning to become director of the United Nations Children's Fund. Veneman's background was in law.
She had some successes, such as passage of the 2001 farm bill and work for the national food stamp program, but a lawyer who was raised on a peach farm on the West Coast can't be in touch with rural middle America.
She was followed by two former governors from the Great Plains: Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Ed Schafer of North Dakota.
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Vilsack doesn't have an agriculture background and he, too, worked his way into politics through law. But as governor of the largest corn-producing state, we trust he has worked at length with producers.
Aggies from across the region have praised President-elect Obama for selecting Vilsack.
In 2008, commodity prices are high and, at least in South Dakota, bins are busting from bumper harvests. But what will 2009, 2010 and years beyond bring?
Are farmers in the Great Plains riding a financial high or are they on the cusp of disaster considering input costs, the possible overproduction of corn and the poor economy?
Is the $96 billion USDA budget in line for cuts in these cash-strapped times?
What will become of the Conservation Reserve Program, which has led to South Dakota's thriving pheasant industry?
These are questions Vilsack eventually must answer.
We'd much rather have a former governor from Iowa take on these Midwest-specific issues than, say, a cranberry farmer from Massachusetts.
