In another step by the Obama administration to bypass Congress, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce Wednesday the creation of seven “climate hubs” around the nation to advise farmers and other landowners on how to adapt to the problems of climate change.
The new offices will be located in Ames, Iowa; Raleigh and Durham, N.C.; Fort Collins, Colo.; El Reno, Okla.; Corvallis, Ore.; and Las Cruces, N.M. Subsidiary hubs will be in Houghton, Mich.; Davis, Calif.; and in Puerto Rico.
A White House official said the climate hubs “will address increasing risks such as fires, invasive pests, devastating floods, and crippling droughts” to give farmers, ranchers and forest landowners advice on how to “adjust their resource management.”
President Obama revealed his plans for the centers in a speech on climate change last June. The announcement on Wednesday is part of his plan to take more executive actions without Congress to achieve more of his policy goals.
“USDA’s Climate Hubs are part of our broad commitment to developing the next generation of climate solutions, so that our agricultural leaders have the modern technologies and tools they need to adapt and succeed in the face of a changing climate,” Mr. Vilsack said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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