Secretary of Agriculture speaks with students

On June 19, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Edward Schafer, addressed individuals involved in the field of agriculture and members of the community at the San Diego County Fair on the topic of food safety.

He spoke to the youth in the crowd, involved in programs such as the FFA, 4-H and Grange, and continuously encouraged them to pursue their interests in the field of agriculture through math, science and engineering.

“The rules matter,” Schafer plainly stated when referring to the USDA and the safety and quality of food in the United States.

He reminded listeners that the United States has the safest and most abundant food supply in the world because the rules and regulations are enforced in every situation on a daily basis throughout the United States.

The field of agriculture can also be brought into a wider arena, Secretary Schafer said several times during his speech. The USDA works with other programs such as NASA not only to feed the astronauts but to test different food products and their growth in climates. The results of these tests could be useful in the future, he said.

FFA and 4-H members were actively involved in Schafer’s speech. Members of these programs, along with individuals from the community, asked questions concerning key agricultural issues and were given answers on topics such as ethanol, the downsizing of agricultural programs in schools, rising feed prices and alternative energy.

Secretary Schafer confidently reminded the public that the USDA makes rules and regulations to assure the citizens of the United States that food is grown safely, looks safe and is safe.

Throughout his speech, one of the key points that Schafer hit on time and time again was “Agriculture is the foundation that made this country great.”

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