President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water, and other natural resources. And one way of restoring the land to its natural condition is what we are doing here today - breaking pavement for the People's Garden.

I grew up in a city. My parents would think there was something wrong with America if they knew I was secretary of agriculture.

Very few people know that my department is responsible for 1.2 million home loans since I have been secretary. That's 1.2 million families that are living in homes in rural America that would never have homeownership, but for the United States Department of Agriculture's programs. We have to do more of educating people about the partnership that does exist between rural America and their government.

If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.

But It doesn't make sense for us to have a continued reliance on a supply of oil where whenever there is unrest in another part of the world, gasoline prices jump up. We need a renewable fuel industry that's more than corn-based, of course, and there are a whole series of great opportunities here.

We have a long tradition in this state of caring for our neighbors - it is truly an Iowa value.

If we can get people to focus on fruits and vegetables and more healthy foods, we'll be better in terms of our healthcare situation.