How will Obama impact our food policy?

Like millions of Americans (and millions more across the Globe) I cheered loudly at Obama's decisive win in November.  Finally, I thought, we can look to 2009 with renewed optimism after eight horrendous years of George Bush's failed policies.  

With respect to food policy and agribusiness, what can we expect from Obama?  This article from The New York Times offers some clues.  

Unfortunately it doesn't appear he's going to tackle the issue with much assertiveness.  How could he, really, when the economy is in the toilet, we're bogged down in two wars and America's global reputation is at its lowest point ever?

His selection of former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, however, is a positive step.  Vilsack has talked publicly about reducing subsidies to huge "mega farms" and endorses better treatment of farm animals.  And he wants to put healthier, organic foods in schools.  We should all be concerned, though, about his ties to big agribusiness.

It looks like the animal rights and environmental protection movements have a lot more work to do if the US is going to shut down factory farms and encourage a wider understanding of how our food choices affect our health, the welfare of animals and the environment.