This entry by Brian Depew on Tue, 12/16/2008 on Blog for Rural America provides some insight on  how Vilsack will fare on issues important to sustainable minded small farmers.  It is encouraging. Although his enthusiasm for biotech is one of his major negatives,  he  does address some of those issues in this interview.
Vilsack Appointed Ag [...]

Chester Bowling is working with OSU Extension Ag Educators to develop a 9 week course for new small farmers. It covers some interesting topics. Can we develop something similar for urban microfarming. Perhaps an online course with additional presentations at public library meeting rooms.
New and Small Farm College idea at Ohio localfoodsystems.org
by Mayda

PBS recently aired an interview with Michael Pollan about American food policy, changes he’d like to see the Obama administration make to localize agriculture, and the wishes of some that Pollan be appointed Secretary of Agriculture. The video is in two parts and also features farmers markets and community gardening in New York City.
Part 1:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11282008/watch.html
Part 2:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11282008/watch2.html

How much chicken could a chicken shop sell if a chicken shop could sell chicken?  Good questions if you could swallow it with out choking.  The chicken industry is all choked up.  Let me tell you about it.  If you want to sell chicken in this town you either have to buy a farm in [...]

Initially, we had set out to come up with a plan that would feed the poor, train and employ aspiring farmers, contribute to the rise of urban agriculture, increase the availability of local food, persuade conventional farmers to switch to more sustainable methods, and generally address environmental and social justice issues. Trying (and failing) to envision how [...]

To promote the use of local foods among restaurateurs and smaller groceries I thought there should be some way to let those customers know each month the following:

what local food is available
from what farmers, at what price, with direct contact info phone, email
quantity available
delivery schedule
how long will it be available

A call can be made to [...]

By Karen G.
Thank you for the opportunity to address an issue that is very near and dear to my heart. That is the need to talk about and make changes in the availability of fresh vegetables. I would like to enlist the help of churches, non-profits and even individual gardeners to grow locally and donate [...]