U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will serve a second term as part of the Obama administration, it was announced Monday. Vilsack said in a statement he will continue work to pass a new Farm Bill and support small towns and rural communities:

“President Obama and I share a deep appreciation for rural America and its unlimited potential in the years ahead to feed a growing world population, revolutionize America’s energy, further protect our natural resources and create more jobs here at home. We will continue to urge Congress to pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that will help us continue USDA’s wide range of efforts to support this work. As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America.”

OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said that Vilsack being retained in the administration is good news for Oregon nurseries. “OAN leaders twice have had the opportunity to meet with the secretary in person, including a detailed meeting about the prenotification requirement held at the home of (then-OAN president) Jerry Simnitt,” Stone said. The requirement since has been largely eliminated.

Vilsack, 62, served as the governor of Iowa from 1998–2006 and briefly ran for president in 2008.