01/25/06 USDA and corporate ag

USDA/Corporate Ag There is a trend in USDA appointees that has some beef producers a little alarmed. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll have some comments in one minute. The appointment of corporate-ag employees and lobbyists to USDA positions is beginning to worry some beef producers. I just read an article by the Independent Beef Association of North Dakota (I-BAND) that states its opposition to the appointment of G. Chandler Keys for undersecretary of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing and Regulatory program. Keys was a lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for many years, but recently has been employed by meat packer Swift and Company to handle government relations in Washington D.C. I-BAND points out research has shown there are approximately as many industry employees as there are career civil servants in USDA's appointees. These North Dakota producers feel having representatives from the meat packing, food processing and retail sector placed into USDA policy or regulatory jobs paves the way for a real conflict of interest. I guess this article would not have attracted my attention except for the conversation I had with a knowledgeable cattle industry representative over two months ago. In the course of our conversation he voiced the same concerns of corporate ag individuals placed in USDA positions. To me this is not so much about an individual appointment but it is something to consider regarding the integrity of USDA's policies and regulation. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 1/4/06