Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
There are children with dreams counting on us.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy.
Local and regional food systems are about opportunity.
I don't think the face of the Democratic Party is Nancy Pelosi.
If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.
Quality, affordable housing is a key element of a strong and secure Iowa.
The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk.
There is more potential for economic growth in rural America than at any time in decades.
When you've paid your debt to society, you need to be reconnected and re-engaged in society.
We have a long tradition in this state of caring for our neighbors - it is truly an Iowa value.
Many young and beginning farmers start out in local markets. Some stay there, and some scale up.
If we are to transition to a new economy and to lead it, we must start by transforming our schools.
I think we all share the same goal, which is a United States of America that inspires people and leads.
More than half of America's rural counties are losing population and with it, political representation.
In 2011, agricultural exports hit a record high and producers saw their best incomes in nearly 40 years.
Americans ... want leaders who share their values, understand their needs, and respect their intelligence.
The food pyramid is very complicated. It doesn't give you as much info in a quick glance as the plate does.
One out of every 12 jobs in the economy is connected in some way, shape or form to what happens on the farm.
During a national crisis, we as a nation become a single community and no one should take advantage of a crisis.
What Republicans have done in my view is that they are systematically dismantling a sense of community in America.
And sometimes people don't realize that 90 percent of the persistent poverty counties are located in rural America.
People working together in a strong community with a shared goal and a common purpose can make the impossible possible.
I grew up in a city. My parents would think there was something wrong with America if they knew I was secretary of agriculture.
The lack of access to proper nutrition is not only fueling obesity, it is leading to food insecurity and hunger among our children.
If we can get people to focus on fruits and vegetables and more healthy foods, we'll be better in terms of our healthcare situation.
Strong communities ... embrace change. New discoveries require us to think differently and approach things differently, to think anew.
The Obama administration will continue to fight for a comprehensive immigration solution that includes AgJobs and a stable workforce for our farms.
The future of healthcare security should include flexibility from the federal government to allow us to serve the state's most vulnerable citizens.
There are a lot of farmers and ranchers who are struggling. I get on my knees every day. If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.
President Obama's fight for rural America is personal. He was raised by a single mom and grandparents from Kansas. He hails from a farming state, Illinois.
I don't care what anybody says: Nothing is better than a tomato you grow. There's something about it that's different than a tomato you can buy. It's a great thing.
Now our job, our duty, our responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our citizens cannot be complete unless we guarantee health care security for our citizens.
Technology has allowed us to have more drought-resistant crops. The spotty nature of drought, the spotty nature of rains can sometimes result in better yields than anticipated.
At President Obama's direction, the U.S Department of Agriculture is working hard to unleash the power of America's innovators and entrepreneurs to build a green energy economy.
To keep farmers on the farm we must maintain a strong farm safety net, but we will also have to build a thriving companion economy to compliment production agriculture in rural America.
If you think of what food is, it's the energy we use to do our daily work. I want people to know about the USDA. This is a very important department. It's not fully appreciated as such.
I don't know if there is a Democrat who necessarily doesn't believe health care is a right instead of privilege. There is a significant between us and the Republican Party on that issue.
Food is a fairly significant aspect of my life. I have struggled mightily with food. With my weight. And I'm conscious of it. So I have a sensitivity to people who struggle with their weight.
Although they are some of the hardest working folks I know, rural Americans earn, on average, $11,000 less than their urban counterparts each year. And they are more likely to live in poverty.
Proper school nutrition must be complemented by activities outside of the cafeteria. The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy are critical in fighting this battle on the home front.
Let us tackle the big issues with bold ideas that transform Iowa to accomplish our shared mission to grow Iowa, and realize our shared vision of Iowa as the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Rural Americans want leaders who help middle-class communities to plan and prosper over the long-term - not opportunists who reap the rewards for themselves, leaving nothing for the people who do the sowing.
We know that there are significant health benefits from consuming more fruits and vegetables, and that's an opportunity for us to sort of move away from some of the meals that we've been preparing in the past.
A healthy workforce is essential to grow our state and compete in the global marketplace. These actions are important to improve the health security of Iowans by making healthcare more affordable and accessible.
To help producers serve larger institutional customers like schools and hospitals, USDA has helped fund new regional infrastructure like cold storage warehouses, commercial kitchens and local slaughter facilities.
USDA is committed to keeping pace with the needs and progress of American agriculture by supporting new markets and movements that will keep farmers profitable and help create middle class jobs across the country.
Today, President Obama is making smart investments in clean energy - wind, solar, biofuels - as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that supports thousands of jobs, not in the Middle East, but in the Midwest.
I wish I could give you all the examples over the last two years as secretary of agriculture, where I hear people in rural America constantly being criticized, without any expression of appreciation for what they do do.
You know, this country today, it seems to me - it's about fear. And it shouldn't be about fear. It should be about hope and optimism and creativity and accepting a challenge and being a moral leader and being a great nation.
This is an exciting time for farmers and ranchers of all types and sizes as agriculture is a bright spot in the American economy. In 2011, agricultural exports hit a record high and producers saw their best incomes in nearly 40 years.