we ask amity shoelace to tell us about the rereleased coolidge autobiography originally published in may of 1929, 92 years ago. >> chair of the column coolidge presidential foundation on book notes plus on the c-span now apps or wherever you get your podcasts. >> now agriculture secretary tom vilsack talks about the economy from the national press club in washington dc, this was about 40 minutes.

[inaudible conversations] >> good morning. please find your seat. we will begin our program this morning. please welcome your host, doug o'brien. [applause] >> good morning, everyone, from here in washington dc at the national press club, welcome everybody who is in person, welcome to the fifth and final day of the 2021 cooperative impact conference for the hundreds of folks in residence

-- registrants on live stream and our audience on c-span, this is a really exciting conversation i have been looking forward to. i will take a moment and introduce these two gentlemen and bring them to the stage and look forward to this important conversation about how cooperatives can be a critical strategy in helping build back the economy and build back more inclusive economy for everyone. first person i will bring to the stage is cornelius blanding, executive director of the federation of southern cooperatives who is also longtime board member for in the cba inclusive. cornelius has a long career in rural, international and

cooperative economic development. his experience includes business and project development, management and marketing. he has worked as a small business development management consultant, manager of multimillion dollar loan fund, domestic and international project director and director of field operation among many of the leadership positions from the federation of southern cooperatives, 54-year-old association of cooperative black farmers in the south. next i would like to bring to the stage secretary tom vilsack. thank you so much for being here, secretary. almost everybody in this community, there's very little introduction needed but i will do a quick one. you want me just to go -- okay. let's go. the last thing i will say if i've got to work with both of these gentlemen in the last 15

years and their shared commitment to economic opportunities is unmatched by anybody i have come across so i'm looking forward to this conversation. thank you both for being here. [applause] >> thank you, doug, mister secretary, thank you for agreeing to sit down with me here today. i want to thank all the partners who made it possible first and foremost, thank you to this audience, those in the room and those watching around the nation, thank you for the national press club, a very historic place and i saw a picture who was in his room at a banquet 60 years ago in 1962 in one of the things we talked about, the civil rights movement and the ultimate goal was the realization of the

american dream and that is important in this context today so let me start this conversation by thanking you and welcoming you to the co-op impact and also the co-op community. that is where we are starting this conversation based on that. you know me as the executive director and the federation is a 54-year-old organizations it started out the civil rights movement and out of the cooperative movement, so it has been a longtime partnership with usda but i'm also a board member of the apex organization. i began to engage with you around the federation of southern processes, that is represented here tonight. let me start by asking a few questions. thanks for being here.

as a longtime leader of usda and former governor, senator, small-town mayor of a rural and agricultural state, you know cooperatives play a critical role across the united states whether they are markets, rural families access critical utilities or black farmers and communities who buy against the most challenging and racially charged environments. co-ops our strategy to provide communities with economic opportunity and now the biden harris administration has made advancing equity a central pillar of their work can you tell us the priorities of usda? >> i would be happy to do that and good morning to all of you and thanks for that introduction and the

opportunity to be here today. appreciate being with my friend cornelius, strong advocate for equity and strong guide to a set usda. i started my day as i do almost every day going to mass. i started this during covid, going online and today the good book had a phrase that i think is particularly appropriate for our meeting today. it said we either gather or we scatter and i think essentially that is what the cooperative movement is about. it is about us gathering for common cause and it is no more important to gather name in rural economic and equity issues. the reality is rural america represents 15% of the country's population but 70% of its landmass.

sometimes there's a tendency to forget the importance of rural america where most of our food is produced and a good deal of our water is impacted, most of the feedstock for power comes from, there is a strong value system that recognizes the importance of giving back to the country reflected a high percentage of folks in rural communities who go into service. it is an important place but also challenged place, whether it is persistent poverty, and aging population, high-level of uninsured, there are many challenges in rural places but there's a moment now at this point when there's an opportunity for rural america to do something great and

something necessary, to transition its economy from one that has been for the most part and extraction oriented economy where we take something off the ground, from the ground, from the land and convert it someplace else, add value someplace else and create opportunity someplace else to a place today where we can essentially create a circular economy, where essentially what is taken from the ground is value-added there in rural america creating jobs in rural america and creating an opportunity for us as a country to manage the climate crisis that we face. i will give you a couple examples. we recently announced a climate smart partnership initiative which is designed to equip and finance large-scale demonstration of pilot projects where we can learn more about

what for 3 practices can create, what results can be developed from the right kind of approach to land, farming, and forest 3. in doing so create information and data to create climate smart commodities which will be a value-added commodity in the marketplace and also allow farmers of all sizes to participate in these projects and to qualify for ecosystem market credit, whether it is carbon credit or wildlife credit or whatever it might be. an opportunity for us to work with you in your cooperative, to encourage farmers of color to come together in a large-scale project, to provide technical assistance and financial resource that will enable them to take chances on their land without incurring costs and reap the economic benefit and learn from that to create these new climate smart

commodities. the cooperative is the vehicle through which many of these pilots and demonstrations can be organized because you have the capacity to aggregate, the power to bring people together and you are trusted at the local level which is incredibly important so that is one example. one of the other issues we are focused on is this issue of equity, no secret here we've got a lot of work to do to make sure usda is servicing all those who have historically been underserved or unserved. for those who have been discriminated against in the past and co-ops had the opportunity to help us. the american rescue plan signed by president biden contains resources given to the department of agriculture to

connect to underserved and distressed farmers and provide the more technical assistance, provide them assistance in terms of access to markets and address issues of land access. the cooperative movement is centered to be technical assistance provider the connector between usda programs and those farmers. a trusted agent on the ground locally that understand where people are, what people need and can communicate to us at ustr how the structure that provides the technical assistance, how we can work with our procurement at usda, we recently announced an effort through our temporary emergency food assistance program where historically we've taken this money is gone out onto the market and dealt with large-scale distributors, but lots of stuff and distributed it to banks and the school lunch program, this time we said let's take $1 billion and

half of it needs to be funneled through a regional or local distributor which means better connection with those local producers, 3 to 400 million of it needs to be provided to those who are historically underserved producers, it is an opportunity to create a new connection through nutrition. cooperatives have the opportunity whether it is equity, nutrition, climate and we are not even talking economic development which we normally is where we would start, there are enormous opportunities for connection and we have the resources to really make a difference and turn the economy in a different direction. >> you said a lot you started out by talking about going to the common good, a phrase not used enough in our country anymore which the cooperative community is about but there's also the tragedy, where

individuals start looking up to incentivize themselves for the common good and we see that happening now even in things like the american rescue plan that you mentioned, where there is reverse discrimination, these programs that benefit all. the only way to resolve this tragedy is two things primarily, one is the cooperative community, has cooperative agreements, having folks work together to meet these agreement and also the government plays a role and has regulations. that is the heart of the issue. how do you see that moving forward in the cooperative community standing behind so people should know how important it is or how to get there. >> the reality is the common

cause is we are interested in keeping people on the land and to have diversity in agriculture and by diversity i mean diversity in all its definitions, large operations, small operations, midsize operations, organic produces, commercially regular conventional protection enterprises, farmers of color, white farmers, we need everybody to figure out it is in our collective best interests if we have a diverse american agriculture. i heard this phrase from folks, they now recognize when we have a food secure nation, producers producing all this food we consume that we have a more secure nation from a national security perspective. keeping people on the land and making it so people who are distressed, those who are

challenged financially, we can help them get the technical assistance and access to programs that help them get market access. the pandemic basically has given us a window into our food system in the window, we created this incredibly efficient system, amazingly efficient but it has been consolidated and it rewarded production and encouraged size and it encouraged technology. what we learned during the pandemic is we need to have a resilient system and resiliency comes not just from large and highly efficient but from capacity, diversity, local and regional strength. you can't have local and regional strength if you have individual weakness so you have to understand with the cooperative movement, usda can work collaboratively to

strengthen the local and regional system and create multiple avenues for producers to access markets. they shouldn't have to rely on a single market. we've seen in the processing world are livestock producers are really really challenged. it is heartbreaking when you hear a cattle producers say to me as he did not long ago that he sold his cattle at $150 ahead loss and when he went into the grocery store he is paying more for his stake but he can't understand why the consumer is paying more and he lost money until he realized processors were making $1,800 a head. where does the cooperative movement come into play? there's an opportunity for us. we recently announced the $500 million initiative to expand processing capacity. who is going to own those processing facilities? farmer owned cooperatives can help create the momentum for

the farmers to come together so they profit not just from production but also processing. maybe then they figure out how can we add just a little bit of difference to whatever we are producing so that we market to a niche market of high value added opportunities. there is a market for that. my wife and i are currently buying stakes from local meat shops. it is great. it may be a slightly higher cost but we know that money is staying in the community, it is circular, it is coming around and helping to employ people, helping local farmers have access to additional markets and strengthening our system so it is more resilient. we need to balance efficiency and productivity with profitability and resilience and one way to do that is making sure farmers are in good shape.

>> i wish free consumer was in a position that you were willing to pay a high price but that's not the reality in our country. aggregation becomes important. even that is a challenge. when you talk about smaller cooperatives. are there other opportunities in the agency or department in terms of these programs were not only small cooperatives but independently owned and controlled businesses, how do cooperatives work across states and regions. where are the opportunities there? >> the opportunity for a processing facility that would essentially allow more multiple state producers a place in addition to the big three or

four to market their cattle so there is a little competition for that supply. we have a capacity issue in this country. one of the reasons we see the situation we are in is we don't have sufficient capacity. when you expand capacity you create opportunities for consumers to have a fair deal at the grocery store and you create that opportunity. we understand the supply chain and a lot of folks between the producer in the grocery store, those who are impacted by this, to be in the warehouse and the cold storage and bringing farmers together to create the value-added brand product for people going the grocery store and they are buying from cornelius who is a local farmer. there are multiple ways. one thing we are going to try to do is take the resources

from the american rescue plan and provide it to a series of co-ops through cooperative agreements to educate people about the extent of the programs at usda. as knowledgeable as you are and you are incredibly knowledgeable about our programs, not everybody knows what you know. we need to make sure people understand there are 41 different programs, for marketing. we need to create better awareness of the amazing reach of the department of agriculture and once co-ops have that information for people at usda they can begin to make grant applications. they can make procurement deals to make opportunity for folks. it creates more resilient system. the key is co-ops cannot only

aggregate, and give a seat at the table but they are trusted. and and and where do i sign up? >> food system and rightfully so, you mentioned the offset about climate change. usda, i vividly remember in 2014, or the nation was challenged based on a city in ohio. and a metro area into lake erie

and caused a toxic algae bloom that shutdown the water supply for half 1 million people in ohio. was tasked with a cleanup effort. you are working on improving that time and all the operations stopped. you stop the water supply for half 1 million people. looking at that situation this toxic -- toxic algae bloom situation is waiting to happen and all it takes is to run off a farm. it happened in every state. it is important to play those roles around climate change. how do we look at climate change from a broad perspective

and usa has a role, more importantly how do we feel if educational program is focused on climate change. >> co-ops have a tremendous opportunity to partner with rcs to stretch and expand the messaging. we just released our climate smart adaptation mitigation strategy starting with leveraging existing programs to address climate and climate related issues. you see a targeting of our conservation programs to climate smart practices. we started this practice and -- in an informal way with the number of states being impacted by drought on the west. we see more focus on climate smart practices. what you impact positively, the ability to have healthier soil,

for the -- we want to target those resources. so working in cooperation with co-ops, can provide information and technical assistance, appreciation for the number of programs available. this allows me to talk about the importance of congress finishing its work on infrastructure and the reconciliation bill. because there are significant resources under any iteration of those proposals to fund expansion of climate smart practices in these areas and it will provide additional personnel to make those local contacts to spread the word. secondly the partnership initiative is a new initiative that will look for partners.

we put out a request for information the next 30 days. we will get feedback from folks how to structure the program but we can anticipate activity on that in 2022. it is about making sure the affiliate ourselves with historic black colleges or hispanic serving institutions to bring them into the process by measuring and quantify the results of all this so we have a database to create this climate smart commodity. there is a tremendous opportunity for collaboration, cooperation, bringing this together. it is no secret we are too divided as a country and not particularly effective when we are divided. we are much better off if we

figure out where the common cause is ended not to be revitalizing the rural economy because that helps everybody in the country. common cause should be about better soil health because that assures food security and national security, water quality, making sure precision agriculture in the right kinds of practices we can reduce the risk of algae blooms and he essentially create inadequate culture that not only leads us here but leads the rest of the world reducing a culture's footprint on climate so we can mitigate the consequences of the changing climate. there's a lot of opportunity here. >> during this pandemic, not only did we see how the food system was, but broadband has the ability to connect us all. you talk about these partnerships. that is a stock that is connecting people but in these

rural communities, what does the agency do and what role to co-ops play in that? >> the electric cooperatives have an opportunity to provide electric service and their access to expand broadband. we have to get serious about this. we need to put resources behind this. as doug o'brien knows, we nicole and dime broadband. we like to talk about it. every politician says we need access to broadband but when it comes to budgeting the resources, the reconciliation provide significant resources for the critical mass of resources that would send a clear message that we will be

serious about, ensuring every rural area has access, not just to broadband, but to download and upload speeds are so low that you don't have access. what we are doing with the reconnect program is if we want our resources you have to commit to download and upload speeds that will provide effective broadband access. the next round, you will see a commitment to that approach. whatever resources are available will be a significant amount. we are talking about this another 20 years. it is critically important and we found out it is not just a

small business guy who needs a farmer, it is also the teacher who may he faced with distance learning requirements. and mental health services and substance abuse services long-distance is tough to do but if you have broadband they have access to experts. it is across the board and affect quality-of-life and economic opportunity in rural places. >> the situation is not new as you know as you mentioned but there are tremendous challenges in rural communities. a huge role with this, i hope the agency will be flexible around these things.

the training centers are very small rural community. at the training center, in that community we had at&t come out, for 100,$000 they can give access for broadband access at the training center for 100,$000. with that access not only does it provide access for the staff but we could become a point for the community. is a solvable problem and we hope these programs are flexible enough to create community ownership as well that is extremely important. how do you see that happening? >> before you make decisions with how programs will be operated or structured, you

listen and learn, a significant amount of time listening and learning, a significant amount of resource available for the rescue plan and the way it was structured there wasn't much direction, what we needed to do with it and there were a lot of folks under the previous covid relief packages, we tried to fashion specific programs to help, whether it is organic or contract growers or a wide variety of folks who can't get much help but structuring those programs before we put the money out, we solicited input and people said you've got to structure it this way create this flexibility or make sure small folks have the ability to access. can't just be the big guys to get access. based on that feedback, part of it is taking time to listen,

and within a flex ability that you can meet the needs out there as you benefit. >> in this room, co-op stakeholders from rural and urban america, communities that we serve. how to you be a better part of this? you roll out these programs, building more resilient communities across the country. >> let me speak to the are been folks. there's a tendency as the secretary comes into a room to talk rural places but a growing part of our climate solution is urban agriculture and opportunity for prosperity to deal with this in urban centers, it creates the opportunity in an urban center for cooperative activity. we announced a series of grants

in europe and aquaculture program to help cities begin to formulate and pfizer he groups and a plan to encourage urban farming, community gardens, school activities, or a combination of all that. there's a growing into important components of every culture in the future, vertical farming, taking warehouse and converting it into a place that is produced in enormous productivity. people need to understand agriculture is not limited to rural farms but also urban centers. in terms of what you can do, this is a pivotal point because we have for the first time in

quite some time resources, from the infrastructure bill and reconciliation bill to make a difference. now is the time for people to engage, to understand it is not just the commerce department or education but usda is a department where there needs to be greater connection, greater partnerships and looking for opportunities to create those relationships that allow us to get these invested in the right way. enormous opportunities. climate opportunity, there will be significant money for these projects. there is an opportunity there. we just announced $100 million loan guarantee program to deal with those issues in the middle of the supply chain. to medicine opportunity. is the broadband issue, creation of local and regional food systems from farmer to

farmers market. farmer to schools, farmers to hospitals, farmers to institutional purchasers, forest restaurants. tremendous opportunity for cooperative folks to create the food hub and the processing. you will have additional resources investing in regional food systems and there's no better partner in that effort. being aware and being connected and responding to the requests for information we want you to partner with us. we need the approach and philosophy behind what you're doing, the notion of bringing people together. the notion of finding common cause and direction. there has never been a time we need more of that than right now.

you have a role not only to revitalize the opportunity, to lead this country in a different direction, one that doesn't divide us but gather or scatter and right now we are scattered. sometimes we think the folks at the top are supposed to bring us together. i don't think so. it is the folks on the ground that say i know my neighbor. don't always agree with my neighbor but he's my neighbor. we will go through the hard work of trying to find consensus and show folks at the top how to do it. that is my challenge, remind us how to do it. >> we are in a cooperative moment. before i let you go if i was

secretary of agriculture what would you ask me at this moment? >> i would ask you to talk to every representative and every senator and explain to them that despite whatever differences they may have a need to find common ground to get these two pieces of legislation passed to the president's desk so the enormous capacity in those pieces of legislation can be provided because given the opportunity i think we will take it and move this country in a different direction and provide global leadership and re-create a common sense of pride in this country so get to work. [applause] >> we are going to do a photo

shoot. >> very good. .. ♪ >> including charter communications. >> broadband is a force for empowerment. that's why charter has invested billions building infrastructure, upgrading technology, empowering opportunity in communities big and small. charter is connecting us. >> charter communications, along with these television companies, supports c-span2 as a public

service. >> beginning now, it's history and books on c-span2. this weekend explore our nation's past with c-span's american history tv and watch booktv the, television for serious readers. today in a collection of oral history interviews, veterans from world war ii to the iraq war talk about their experiences. also authors look at the civil war. caroline janeny discusses the political and military uncertainty in the week following the end of the war, and we talk about confederate general robert e. lee. you can find a full schedule of history programs airing today in your program guide or by visiting c-span.org/history. starting now, it's lectures in history with professor christopher shannon. he teaches a class about irish catholics and 19th century new york city politics. >> well, good morning, everyone.