The US Senate has confirmed President Joe Biden’s Agriculture Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack to the cabinet, sending the former Iowa governor to the same position he served in the time of the Obama administration.

The vote went 92-7 in the favour of the confirmation.

Vilsack, 70, will have his task cut out in helping farmers hard hit by former President Donald Trump’s trade wars and the coronavirus pandemic, which has sickened thousands of workers at meatpacking plants.

“The world and our nation are different today than when I served as agriculture secretary in a previous administration.Today, the pandemic, racial justice and equity and climate change must be our priorities,” Vilsack was quoted as saying during his confirmation hearing by CNN.

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Biden announced the pick in December, praising Vilsack for his effort implementing the Recovery Act after the Great Recession, expanding markets for farmers.