Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack continued to push Monday today for passage of climate change legislation commonly referred to as "cap and trade." Vilsack said while he understands there are things that need to negotiated, Congress needs to address the issue. Vilsack said "the climate is in fact changing" and in the administration's view will have a greater impact on forest and farms and be more costly to mitigate if something is not done now.

Vilsack said he was surprised the issue did not come up during the town hall meeting portion of his visit to Scottsbluff-Gering as part of the administration's "Rural Tour". It was only was addressed in a short media briefing afterwards.

Vilsack says " cap and trade" can create jobs and farm income , claiming the bill could provide agriculture with a "$20 billion opportunity" when it is fully implemented.

Vilsack says ag income is projected to drop from from $84 billion last year to $55 billion this year, emphasizing "we need to think out of the box because the status quo is not working. "

Vilsack said we have to "find a way to make this work for rural America."