Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits John Deere strikers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said he's willing to speak with Deere & Co.'s CEO to make sure he "understands and appreciates" the importance of resolving the historic strike happening at its factories.

Driving the news: Vilsack briefly visited the picket line at the John Deere factory in Ankeny Wednesday.

Why it matters: It's added layer of pressure for Deere leaders to offer a contract union leaders can agree with — this time, from the Biden administration.

What he's saying: Union workers thanked Vilsack for showing up.

• "These folks were very supportive of me when I ran for governor," Vilsack said. "It's something that you don't ... forget."

The bottom line: The former Iowa governor said he wants to see the workers earn the wage "they deserve," though he said he didn't know the details of the first offer.