USDA Gaps Getting Filled

Brooke Rollins was approved to be the 33rd Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture by a Senate vote last week. Joe Gilson, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation...

"Farmers across the country are looking forward to having Brooke Rollins as secretary at USDA. Takes over USDA at a critical time right now for America's farmers and ranchers as they're facing the headwinds of a tough farm economy with low commodity prices and high inputs, so glad to have a voice for agriculture at the helm."

Gilson says Rollins has no shortage of pressing issues to take on now that she’s officially the Secretary of Agriculture...

"She'll have to prioritize the distribution of the disaster and economic aid that was included in the December Continuing Resolution bill. And then, we have high path avian influenza that is roiling the broiler and egg-laying communities, so we want to make sure that we get that foreign animal disease taken care of. And then, advocating for trade policy that maintains and grows markets for our ag producers."

Farm Bureau says lawmakers still have more to do by confirming additional appointees to USDA.

"There are other positions remaining at USDA that need confirmed, including the deputy secretary and other undersecretaries. We hope that her deputies can get in quickly as she has and roll up their sleeves and get to work."

Again, Joe Gilson, American Farm Bureau.