United States President-elect Barack Obama has selected Tom Vilsak as his new Secretary of Agriculture.

Vilsack was governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2008.  Iowa is a state reliant on farming and agriculture.  This should give Vilsack an appreciation of agricultural issues.
His first two challenges will be to get the farm bill passed and to implement the ethanol policies laid out by Obama in his campaign.

Vilsack is a strong supporter of alternative energy.  When he was governor of Iowa, Vilsack served on numerous agricultural committees.  He was also the chairman of the governor's ethanol coalition.