Comment
Dear Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar:
We write you today in support of Greg Ibach’s nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department of Agriculture. American farmers, ranchers, grain handlers, and exporters are facing economic headwinds and uncertainty, and it is critical that this role is filled by a strong leader who will be ready to get right to work, building new markets for American products.
Mr. Ibach has a wealth of experience that position him for success in this role, having served in multiple key capacities vital to trade and agriculture. As the former Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs during President Trump’s first term, Mr. Ibach was committed to effective regulations that preserved the safety and quality of American agricultural products and expanded market opportunities for producers. He did an outstanding job breaking down sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to U.S. agricultural products, protecting American agriculture from pests and diseases, and strengthening domestic marketing programs. Mr. Ibach also holds the record as Nebraska’s longestserving Director of Agriculture, where he played a critical role in promoting trade and Nebraska agricultural exports.
A farmer himself, Mr. Ibach has a unique understanding of how USDA programs and policies impact producers at the farm gate and food processing and agriculture businesses. He has been a strong advocate for farmers throughout his entire career, working with agricultural stakeholders to advocate for policies to benefit American agriculture and food processors.
Given the many difficulties facing America’s farmers and rural communities, as well as the new export opportunities the Administration’s trade negotiations are poised to open, it is critical that the Senate acts on Mr. Ibach’s nomination in an expeditious, bipartisan manner. U.S. agriculture needs an experienced champion in this role to support farmers, ranchers, grain handlers, and exporters as we continue to nourish, clothe, and fuel the world.
As such, we urge your committee, and the full U.S. Senate, to promptly confirm Mr. Ibach as USDA’s next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. Thank you for your consideration, and for your dedication to serving America’s agricultural community. We look forward to Mr. Ibach’s return to USDA.
Sincerely,
Agricultural Retailers Association
Alabama Farmers Federation
Amcot
American Coalition for Ethanol
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Malting Barley Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Sheep Industry Association
American Soybean Association
Animal Health Institute
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Soybean Association
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Associated Equipment Distributors
BeeCAUSE
Blue Diamond Growers
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Citrus Mutual
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Prune Board
California Table Grape Commission
California Walnut Commission
CEA Alliance
Colorado Farm Bureau
Consortium for Common Food Names
Corn Growers Association of North Carolina
Corn Refiners Association
CropLife America
Farm Credit Council
Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States
Florida Citrus Mutual
Food and Agriculture Export Alliance
Food Export -Midwest & Food Export -Northeast
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Georgia Corn Growers Association
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Growth Energy
Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
International Dairy Foods Association
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Indiana Corn Growers Association
Indiana Farm Bureau
Indiana Soybean Alliance
International Fresh Produce Association
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Soybean Association
Kansas Corn Growers Association
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kansas Soybean Association
Meat Institute
Michigan Corn Growers Association
Michigan Soybean Association
Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Mississippi Soybean Association
Missouri Farm Bureau
Missouri Soybean Association
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Barley Improvement Committee
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union National Grain and Feed Association
National Industrial Hemp Council
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Pecan Federation
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)
National Seafood Association
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
National Turkey Federation
National Watermelon Association
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
New Jersey Farm Bureau
New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association
North American Blueberry Council
North American Export Grain Association
North American Millers’ Association
North American Renderers Association
North Carolina Farm Bureau
North Carolina Soybean Produces Association
North Dakota Corn Growers Association
North Dakota Soybean Growers Association
Northwest Horticultural Council
Ohio Farm Bureau
Ohio Soybean Association
Oklahoma Soybean Association
Oregon Farm Bureau
Pet Food Institute
Renewable Fuels Association
South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association
South Dakota Corn Growers Association
South Dakota Farm Bureau
South Dakota Soybean Association
South Dakota Wheat Growers Association
Southern United States Trade Association
Sweetener Users Association
Synergistic Hawai’i Agriculture Council
Tennessee Soybean Association
Texas Citrus Mutual
Texas Corn Producers Association
Texas Soybean Association
Texas Wheat Producers Association
The Fertilizer Institute
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Dairy Export Council
U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council
U.S. Peanut Federation
U.S. Sweet Potato Council
United Egg Producers
United States Cattlemen’s Association
United States Meat Export Federation
US Dry Bean Council
US Rice Producers Association
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
USA Pulses
USA Rice
Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
Virginia Soybean Association
Washington Apple Commission
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Western United States Agriculture Trade Association
Wine Institute
Wisconsin Corn Growers Association
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin Soybean Association
