Vilsack comments on updated Farm Income Forecast

Praising President Barack Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's comments on the updated 2015 U.S. Farm Income Forecast spoke glowingly of the investments and actions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 2009.

"The American agriculture success story is not celebrated often enough. That success is due, in part, to U.S. farmers' bold willingness to seize opportunities in new markets, both domestic and foreign, and harness the best of American technology and innovation,” Vilsack said. “At the same time, markets continue to expand for locally grown food, a market valued at $11.7 billion last year, and America's bio-based economy has emerged as a new frontier for U.S. growth. The country's biobased industry contributed 4 million jobs and $369 billion to the economy in 2013, while displacing about 300 million gallons of petroleum-equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road. American agriculture achieved record exports last year and USDA continues to pursue strong new trade deals so that farm and ranch businesses don't miss out on new markets for their products.”

The agriculture industry has also played a part the overall economy experiencing 65 straight months of growth, and almost two-thirds of rural counties in the country have gained jobs over the past year.