It appears as though ethanol is here to stay.

With Iowa's former governor Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary and longime Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin sitting as chairman of the Agriculture Committee, the direction of biofuels and agriculture policy of the new administration appears clear.

Ethanol supporters couldn't be happier.

"He knows which end of the cow to put the distiller's grain in. He'll get that on day one and that's very good," Monte Shaw, spokesman for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association told the Associated Press.

Critics have said ethanol is a wrong turn in the United States' drive for energy dependence and conservation and boosts food costs.

The Agriculture Deparment also oversees the food-stamp program, which provides assistance to millions nationwide and thousands of Utah families, and the U.S. Forest Service. There are six national forests in Utah: Wasatch; Ashley; Uinta; Manti-LaSal; Fishlake; and Dixie.

A 58-year-old attorney, Vilsack is no stranger to public office, in addition to two terms as governor, he also served in the state Senate and as a mayor.