Mike Johanns Quotations

We asked ourselves and the world to base decisions on good science, and I really believe the United States can be the leader in delivering that message to our international trading partners.

The president has been a true friend of the ag industry, because he continues to invest large amounts of money at a time when savings is really the goal of the federal government to deal with the deficit.

Food safety involves everybody in the food chain.

On the professional side, those 18 years on the farm instilled my love for agriculture.

Science is the international language, so when we are able to convince countries that good decision-making for human health and animal health is based upon science, that's a real success story for us.

The meat and poultry industries are outstanding industries, and it's going to be a very natural fit for me.

In this day and age when we do so much business in foreign trade, we need the ability to identify trace an animal very quickly, identifying where it came from - where it has been, and where it is at today.

Growing up on a dairy farm, you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to purpose.

We need to always be vigilant on the sanitary issues.

In beef trade issues, we base our decisions upon science.

The goal is to normalize trade relations based on sound science and consumer protection.

Our job is to ensure that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled for the benefit of the American consumers, and to make sure that they are in compliance with all federal laws.

Fortunately, when it comes to meat and poultry, I have the really wonderful situation of having producers and processors that produce and process a very high-quality product.

The big producer is going to figure out how to deal with whatever the rules are, but the little guy who is running a few hundred units or maybe feeding 1,500 cattle a year, how will they ever comply with these requirements?

This president has said this has to be a priority for our nation, protecting our food supply from terrorist acts, so he continues to provide the funding that is necessary.

We're going to do everything possible to make sure that food safety is always paramount, and that we work with the industry as aggressively as we can to make sure that we're paying attention to the food-safety issues.

There is a tremendous amount of support for the approach we have taken, which again is to base our decisions on risk analysis and thoughtful scientific process.

We had Taiwan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Oman open their markets to our beef, and we're excited about that.

I ended up being the governor of a very ag state, Nebraska.

I meet with people in the industry on an ongoing basis.

In 75 foreign countries, we have a presence in the USDA.

My goal with the Canadian border is the same goal I have for Japan and Korea.

People enjoy our meat and our poultry, as I do as a consumer.

Producers are so much better-educated in issues related to terrorism.

The industry is becoming very ready for animal identification.

The world is really figuring BSE out, and that's positive.

We're going to show you some fun homework,

We want to send a signal as to what the farm bill will be so that producers can make decisions.

There is a lot of damage, ... This is my third visit to the area in the last few days and I can assure you that the Department of Agriculture is doing its part in the recovery effort.

Let me be clear, the Congress will be writing the next farm bill in 2007, and I am deeply concerned the administration is using the current negotiations to reshape farm policy without the full input of Congress and grassroots support,

One of the things that I always say about bioterrorism, whether it's ourselves at the federal level, folks at the state level, or folks in the private industry, we've done many great things, especially since 9/11.

if they see something that doesn't look right.

I am encouraged by the resumption of grain movement along the Mississippi River just one week after grain transportation was virtually halted by Hurricane Katrina, ... Clearly, there is much work to be done but I am confident that remaining obstacles will be overcome to resume all activity in a timely manner. We are assuring our international customers that we expect minimal disruptions.

I look forward to advancing your rural agenda for the 21st century,

I have just been very reluctant to even set a date as to when we would bring that to a close, ... It's safe to say the enhanced surveillance is going to extend beyond the end of December.

Gil Gonzalez and Jim Little will bring their in-depth knowledge and experience in community development and agriculture to the important role of coordinating USDA Hurricane response and recovery efforts in the region, ... I have great confidence in this senior team to work with all of our federal, state and local partners. USDA is delivering all the assistance possible to help displaced residents along the Gulf coast.

Given the severity of the hurricane, the agricultural losses could have been much greater,

There are so many commodities in the affected areas, like rice, cotton, sugar cane, cattle and chickens, ... Many grains that are stored can't handle the heat and humidity.

I will always advocate we should support agriculture, ... I just think it's good federal policy and we can continue to do that notwithstanding what happens at the WTO.

I will always advocate we should support agriculture,

Our poultry industry is very consolidated, unlike that of other countries where chickens are raised in yards and inside homes. Our chickens, turkeys and eggs are raised in very controlled environments.

The 2007 farm bill will affect America's entire agricultural community, so I believe our entire agricultural community should have a say in the process. I welcome input from across the nation about what is working and what we can do to improve farm policy.

We are doing everything we can to help our Gulf Coast producers recover from the affects of Hurricane Katrina, ... The assistance announced today is an important component of USDA's efforts and our commitment to help farmers and ranchers rebuild their operations.

We are reassuring our international customers that we expect minimal disruptions,

We're not going to give up. We're going to do everything we can to bring it to a successful conclusion,

We don't want this generation of young people to be the first generation that lives fewer years than their parents,

This report will provide the first USDA assessment of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on our farmers and ranchers, ... While it will take some time to determine the full impact of both the hurricane and drought, this report will give us some insight into the extent of the damage.

There has been $150 million to $200 million put into the hurricane recovery effort already,

While this is a not food safety issue, this is a unacceptable failure on our part to meet the requirements of our agreements with trading partner Japan. As I said, we take this matter very seriously, recognizing the importance of beef export markets. We are acting swiftly and firmly.

There is no justifiable reason for borders to be closed to U.S. beef,

We fully expect to be a key player in the next farm bill, ... could possibly result in a specific proposal.

We are very concerned with the level of childhood obesity, ... We don't want this generation of young people to live fewer years than their parents.

Vessels are moving on the river. Vessels are being loaded today, literally as we speak,

USDA is committed to supporting producers throughout long- and short-term recovery,

I spent the morning in (U.S. Speaker of the House) Denny Hastert's district in northern Illinois. There's no question there is impact from the drought. Some ears have four or five kernels, others have nothing, and some are two-thirds filled,

It would be a grave mistake to declare this round at end,

These programs have helped thousands of producers recover from the devastating effects of severe weather in counties that have received a Presidential disaster declaration,

The thoroughness of this report demonstrates just how serious we are about addressing this incident and providing assurance to our trading partners that our system is among the best in the world. I believe our actions fully address the facts that led to this incident and provide added protections on a broader scale to prevent similar problems in the future.

The OIG report concludes there is no evidence that specified risk materials entered the food supply, ever.

announced without the benefit of a public hearing as to necessity and reasonableness ...

Approximately 16 million acres subject to CRP contracts expire in 2007. Fulfilling President Bush's directive to allow eligible farmers and ranchers to re-enroll or extend their CRP contracts helps ensure that the quality of soil, water, air and wildlife benefits of CRP continue across the nation for years to come.

The Bush Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are now very supportive of renewable energy.

This funding will purchase emergency response vehicles, radio gear, warning sirens, improve public safety facilities and upgrade communications systems, ... While these requests were submitted and approved before hurricane Katrina struck, these funds will contribute to rebuilding efforts and to the long-term commitment of the Bush Administration to prepare our nation to respond to emergencies of any kind.

This is a fun approach to addressing the very serious problem of childhood obesity,

This investigation would have taken far less than two months if we had the National Animal Identification System in place,

I toured the area this morning with (House Speaker) Dennis Hastert, ... Corn is about what you'd expect. You peel one husk, and there are maybe four or five kernels. You peel another, and there is no ear at all. You peel a third, and maybe two-thirds of the kernels are there. We'll have a better handle on what the yields are once harvest gets underway.

It's really cool. Great to pick up dust,

The farmer in Central City, Nebraska, is feeling the impact of this. The farmer in Hope County, Iowa, is feeling this,

I indicated to minister Nakagawa that we received their questions and we are in the process of completing the responses. I also indicated that we anticipate submitting those responses to Japan next week.

I'm pleased that USDA can offer assistance to farmers and ranchers who have sustained losses from Hurricane Katrina, ... This agriculture disaster designation will enable eligible producers to apply for low-interest emergency loans from USDA to help cover their losses. This announcement is a part of our commitment to help farmers and ranchers to rebuild their operations.

I never would have believed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate that the U.S. government could buy GM without a hearing, with no vote, yes or no. There are billions and billions of dollars at stake here.

I describe the current farm bill as perhaps the most high-risk approach we could take for our nation's farmers and ranchers in the future, ... Some have expressed concern about giving up what is considered to be the current safety net. I ask you to contemplate the purpose of a safety net, and whether current farm programs truly fulfill that purpose for American agriculture.

For the past two years, Allan has demonstrated outstanding leadership at USDA Rural Development, ... The people we serve in rural America and USDA will all benefit from his experience and knowledge in this new position.

Agriculture is very sensitive to (energy) issues, ... It's fertilizer-based and the irrigation equipment ... the tractors, the combines and all of that ... run on diesel. So it's a very difficult situation out there.

The CRP is a priority for President Bush,

Today, we can tell people we have a testing process and facilities in place on a nationwide basis.

When one cow was found with BSE in 2003, many of our trading partners closed their borders to our beef.

There is a certain amount of momentum that is achieved when one country after another reopens their borders.

Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your faults. After growing up on a dairy farm, everything in life seemed easy