Growing up on a dairy farm, you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to purpose.

Fortunately, when it comes to meat and poultry, I have the really wonderful situation of having producers and processors that produce and process a very high-quality product.

In 75 foreign countries, we have a presence in the USDA.

In beef trade issues, we base our decisions upon science.

This president has said this has to be a priority for our nation, protecting our food supply from terrorist acts, so he continues to provide the funding that is necessary.

The big producer is going to figure out how to deal with whatever the rules are, but the little guy who is running a few hundred units or maybe feeding 1,500 cattle a year, how will they ever comply with these requirements?

There is a tremendous amount of support for the approach we have taken, which again is to base our decisions on risk analysis and thoughtful scientific process.

We're going to do everything possible to make sure that food safety is always paramount, and that we work with the industry as aggressively as we can to make sure that we're paying attention to the food-safety issues.

On the professional side, those 18 years on the farm instilled my love for agriculture.

There is a certain amount of momentum that is achieved when one country after another reopens their borders.

Today, we can tell people we have a testing process and facilities in place on a nationwide basis.

When one cow was found with BSE in 2003, many of our trading partners closed their borders to our beef.

I ended up being the governor of a very ag state, Nebraska.

We asked ourselves and the world to base decisions on good science, and I really believe the United States can be the leader in delivering that message to our international trading partners.

My goal with the Canadian border is the same goal I have for Japan and Korea.

One of the things that I always say about bioterrorism, whether it's ourselves at the federal level, folks at the state level, or folks in the private industry, we've done many great things, especially since 9/11.

Our job is to ensure that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled for the benefit of the American consumers, and to make sure that they are in compliance with all federal laws.

The meat and poultry industries are outstanding industries, and it's going to be a very natural fit for me.

The goal is to normalize trade relations based on sound science and consumer protection.

The world is really figuring BSE out, and that's positive.

People enjoy our meat and our poultry, as I do as a consumer.

In this day and age when we do so much business in foreign trade, we need the ability to identify trace an animal very quickly, identifying where it came from - where it has been, and where it is at today.

Growing up on a dairy farm, you certainly learn discipline and a commitment to purpose.

Producers are so much better-educated in issues related to terrorism.

Food safety involves everybody in the food chain.

I meet with people in the industry on an ongoing basis.

I never would have believed as a candidate for the U.S. Senate that the U.S. government could buy GM without a hearing, with no vote, yes or no. There are billions and billions of dollars at stake here.

The industry is becoming very ready for animal identification.

The president has been a true friend of the ag industry, because he continues to invest large amounts of money at a time when savings is really the goal of the federal government to deal with the deficit.

We had Taiwan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Oman open their markets to our beef, and we're excited about that.

Science is the international language, so when we are able to convince countries that good decision-making for human health and animal health is based upon science, that's a real success story for us.

We need to always be vigilant on the sanitary issues.

Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.

Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation.

It's true that the war in Iraq opened a distance in relations between part of Europe and the U.S. government, but our basic ties are stronger than that. We share democracy, free markets and a commitment to Western security. We differ on how to guarantee that security.

A great deal has been said about my commitment not to raise taxes. It's a core value - it's common sense - it's important to keeping and growing jobs - and it's mainstream!

And because of these programs like Medicare, Medicare prescription drugs, Social Security, we now have the healthiest and wealthiest group of senior citizens that the world has ever seen. This is a continuing commitment to that.

You need the words, you need the script, you need the material, you need the commitment, you need the passion, it's like we depend on writers, we depend on producers, directors depend on us and once things are in the divine order as they happen.

My satisfaction comes from my commitment to advancing a better world.

You may count on Mexico's support, since your commitment to the noblest causes of mankind and your vast experience are and will be invaluable in enabling us, together, to achieve a better world.

The Election Assistance Commission represents a major, unprecedented commitment from the federal government to sustained freedom and vibrant democracy. I am humbled by the prospect of being one its charter members.

We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel, and between the American and Israeli people. We share common values and a commitment to a democratic future for the world, and we are both committed to a two-state solution. But that doesn't mean that we're going to agree.

To work with a director that has emotional commitment and passion toward the characters, and the piece, and the experiences, it only enriches your work.

Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes... but no plans.

I'm not just a politician, I'm a guy who has a real deep, substantive, commitment to education.

My commitment to Atlanta and passion for sports and competition make this acquisition a perfect fit for me.

We must have a relentless commitment to producing a meaningful, comprehensive energy package aimed at conservation, alleviating the burden of energy prices on consumers, decreasing our country's dependency on foreign oil, and increasing electricity grid reliability.

Commitment and co-operation to overcome barriers and difficulties, and determination to achieve the standards of the EU as well as NATO membership, are and have always been the principal target.

One of the best kept secrets in America is that people are aching to make a commitment, if they only had the freedom and environment in which to do so.