Since I did a post on FarmPolicy.com I guess I can do another policy one on something that Joe Cornely brought to my attention via Twitter. He pointed to a story in the Los Angeles Times from an interview with our new Energy Secretary. If you look at the category for this post you’ll see where I place this guy. I just thought I’d point you to it since he’s one of the people who will be affecting policies and administrative decisions for at least 4 years and they could significantly change the way we do business in this country and especially in farming. Here’s a couple of Chu’s statement excerpts that might give you some pause for thought. California is his home state btw.
‘We’re looking at a scenario where there’s no more agriculture in California,’ Steven Chu says . . .
California’s farms and vineyards could vanish by the end of the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said Tuesday.
“I’m hoping that the American people will wake up,” Chu said, and pay the cost of rewiring.”
I thought our new administration promised hope not fear. If this isn’t fear mongering then I don’t know what is. I personally don’t believe in man made global warming or that we can change natural climate change simply by making lifestyle changes. I do believe in climate change. We have these things called the seasons for one thing. I think we had an ice age once, actually more than one. I do believe that we should practice good environmental care and that farmers are some of the most environmentally friendly people on the planet. Air and water quality in big cities can be improved and renewable fuels is a good way to work on that besides relieving our dependence on foreign oil from countries that are not our friends. I think the bottom line is that we’ve got people in power now who have a goal of re-shaping society into their personal vision of it. Since the majority of Americans would never agree to it they have to have a very scared public in order to get their policies enacted and they have to push very quickly before people wise up.
We’ve got some challenging times ahead and I don’t think it’s just the economy.
I want to congratulate Keith Good, FarmPolicy.com, for his new sponsor, 
Greetings from Grand Rapids, Mich. I’m attending and speaking at the 2009 Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, a conference that has been serving the needs of dairy producers since 2003. The conference center is packed with producers who are seeking solutions to the rising challenges facing them in 2009. I’m happy to be a part of the equation, and I hope I bring some fresh ideas to the table over the next couple of days.
It’s nice to see companies adding staff these days. I guess that means they’re “Brave Enough.”
Katherine Liljegren has been hired as a creative generalist after completing a graduate internship with the agency. Liljegren earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication at Drake University in 2008, where she served on the Board of Student Communications and the Student Activities Board. She is a native of Kansas City.
Long time AgWired fans know that we worked very closely with the former Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. The organization has now been remade into 
The 
In turn, taking Markus’ previous role as BASF group VP for crop protection is Nevin McDougall. Most recently, McDougall was Vice President, US Business Operations, Crop Protection. McDougall has spent the last 16 years with BASF and its legacy company (American Cyanamid) working in Canada, Asia and the United States, where he has served in a variety of sales, marketing and management roles. McDougall has also led BASF operations in the Asia Pacific region as Group Vice President for Agricultural Products.
The agriblogging highway runs to Orlando, FL next week and the 
We were broadcasting live earlier this evening from the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Watt Arena. Here’s the setup. I really didn’t know we’d have fairly good internet access but thought I’d give it a try.