Washington, D.C. – Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) president Dennis Slater issued the following statement on the announcement that President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Tom Vilsack to serve as Secretary of Agriculture.

“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers congratulates Tom Vilsack on his nomination to serve as the next Secretary of Agriculture. His leadership as the 30^th Secretary of Agriculture and as the 40^th Governor of Iowa has prepared him well for the many challenges facing our nation. Secretary Vilsack understands the close ties between rural America and manufacturing and the essential role that equipment manufacturers play in building, powering, and feeding the world. Through the years, AEM has had the opportunity to work with Sec. Vilsack on issues such as opening new markets for U.S. growers and equipment manufacturers, promoting the benefits of precision agriculture, and protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard. We have always valued Sec. Vilsack’s strong focus on collaboration and bipartisanship, and look forward to working with him to advance a rural economic development strategy that supports farmers and ranchers, strengthens communities, and provides young people with more options to live, work, and raise the next generation in rural America.”

Equipment manufacturers support one in eight manufacturing jobs in America, and the 2.8 million men and women of our industry make the equipment that build, power, and feed the world and positively impact the lives of every American every day. To learn more about the economic contribution of U.S. equipment manufacturers, visit www.aem.org/impact.

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