 Vilsack has tough words for Ag Chair Thompson on EPA attacks. You're listening to the American Ag Network. I'm Jesse Allen with News of Agriculture. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack had some tough words recently for House Ag Chair Glenn G.T. Thompson over Thompson's recent attacks on the EPA. Secretary Vilsack, on a press call on new meat and poultry processing grants, dismissed Thompson's claim at a hearing on regulations that EPA is hurting ag, even as USDA is trying to help it.