Secretary Schafer: "I'm glad agriculture has a seat at the table now, because agricultural and rural areas are the primary contributors to renewable energy. Renewable energy presents a fantastic opportunity for agriculture. We're already seeing the benefits of renewables in the United States. We're predicting that net cash farm income will reach $96 billion this year, and we're seeing record prices for crops used in energy production like corn and soybeans." Secretary Schafer made his remarks at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. 03/04/08 USDA 08di1271-026