Milling & Baking News - May 23, 2017 - 24

Washington X

Perdue announces restructuring
at U.S. Department of Agriculture
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Agriculture George E. (Sonny) Perdue on
May 11 announced a reorganization of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
restructuring will include the creation
of the position of undersecretary for
trade and foreign agricultural affairs.
U.S.D.A. offices and agencies that provide services to the farmer and rancher
community will fall under the purview
of a newly named farm production and
conservation mission area. Mr. Perdue
also announced that the department's
rural development agencies would be
elevated to report directly to the secretary of agriculture in recognition of the
need to help promote rural prosperity.
The U.S.D.A. indicated the reorganization will place agencies in more
logical order. Under the existing structure, the Foreign Agricultural Service
(F.A.S.), which deals with overseas
markets, and the Farm Service Agency
(F.S.A.), which handles domestic issues, were housed under one mission
area, along with the Risk Management
Agency (R.M.A.). Mr. Perdue said it
makes more sense to situate the F.A.S.
under the new undersecretary for
trade, where staff can focus their attention on foreign markets.

"Our plan to establish an undersecretary for trade fits right in line with my
goal to be American agriculture's unapologetic advocate and chief salesman
around the world," Mr. Perdue said.
"By working side by side with our U.S.
Trade Representative and Secretary of

the F.S.A., the R.M.A., and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service under this undersecretary, the U.S.D.A.
said it will be better able to provide a
simplified one-stop shop for farmers,
ranchers and foresters.
The U.S.D.A. said the restructuring
will elevate the rural development
agencies to report directly to the secretary of agriculture.
"The economic health of small

Secretary of Agriculture George E. (Sonny) Perdue, seated, reviews order restructuring
U.S.D.A. while visiting a barge facility in Cincinnati.

Commerce Wilbur Ross, the U.S.D.A.
undersecretary for trade will ensure that
American producers are well equipped
to sell their products and feed the world."
Mr. Perdue said a new undersecretary will be selected for the farm
production and conservation mission
area, which will concentrate on domestic agricultural issues. By locating

towns across America is crucial to the
future of the agriculture economy,"
Mr. Perdue said. "It is my commitment to always argue for the needs of
rural America, which is why we are
elevating rural development within
U.S.D.A. No doubt, the opportunity
we have here at the U.S.D.A. in rural
development is unmatched." MBN

Kudos from legislators and farm groups for
new position of undersecretary for trade
WASHINGTON - As part of his reorganization of key U.S. Department of
Agriculture agencies and mission areas, Secretary of Agriculture George
E. (Sonny) Perdue created the position of an undersecretary for trade
and foreign agricultural affairs. The move was in accord with provisions
of the 2014 farm bill that directed the U.S.D.A. to establish such a position. The department's enhanced emphasis on trade was applauded by
the farm community and farm state legislators.
Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Senate Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, said, "Just a few short weeks
into the new job, I'm pleased that Secretary Perdue continues to hit the
ground running on behalf of rural America. The establishment of a trade
undersecretary is long overdue. As I continue to say, we need to get the
right folks down at the department to get to work on the issues that
matter most to farmers. Trade is certainly at the top of that list."
Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, ranking member on the Senate
agriculture committee, said, "I applaud Secretary Perdue for taking steps
to implement provisions of the 2014 farm bill to create an undersecretary
position focused on trade and agricultural exports. American agricultural products are in high demand across the world, and our farmers and
ranchers deserve a strong voice to help them access new global markets."
Representative K. Michael Conaway of Texas, chairman of the House
Committee on Agriculture, said, "I look forward to the new undersecretary for trade playing an active role in gaining additional market access for our products, while working to ensure that our trading partners
honor the commitments they have made."

24 / May 23, 2017 XMilling & Baking News

In a joint statement, Randy Gordon, president of the National Grain
and Feed Association, and Gary Martin, president and chief executive
officer of the North American Export Grain Association, said, "It is highly
significant that one of Secretary Perdue's first actions reflects his recognition of, and strong support for, the essential role that agricultural
trade plays in the economic well-being of U.S. farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, rural communities and the nation as a whole."
President David Schemm, president of the National Association of Wheat
Growers, said, "NAWG applauds the U.S.D.A. for emphasizing the importance of trade by creating a specific mission area devoted to the department's trade programs. This move highlights the significance that programs
like the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development
(F.M.D.) program play in promoting wheat and other ag commodities all
over the world. We also commend the administration for recognizing the
value of American agricultural products to international markets."
Ron Moore, president of the American Soybean Association, commented,
"To have U.S.D.A. recognize the importance of farm trade by creating this
position is very encouraging, and we appreciate the administration's foresight in doing so. We know that President Trump has big ideas on trade, and
it will be imperative to have high-level officials within the administration
who understand the intricacies of global agriculture markets."
Wesley Spurlock, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said, "Now is the time for U.S. agriculture to fully capitalize on the
long-term, increased global demand for our products around the world.
Today's announcement is a big step toward that goal." MBN

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Milling & Baking News - May 23, 2017

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