Special Assistant for Ag Says Trump Committed to Farmers
Ray Starling, the newly named special assistant to the president for agriculture, agricultural trade and food assistance, says his presence in the role is an indication of President Trump’s commitment to ag. He is the first to be given the job in several years.
“I think this is a sign, and some indication, of how this administration will approach ag issues,” Starling said during a presentation at National Ag Day in D.C. on March 21.
He named these priorities for the Trump administration:
- Promoting ag trade
- Access to an affordable farming workforce
- Regulatory reform, including a seat at the table when new regulations are proposed.
About labor, Starling told the audience that “we are getting to a period of push comes to shove” on access to a workforce for agriculture. It is a top-of-mind issue, he said, although it is too soon for specifics on solutions.
On regulatory reform, Starling said the administration will evaluate the current landscape and “make it less onerous.”
He said the administration wants “to leave behind a mechanism so you have a seat at the table.”
Starling also noted changes already made—or that the ag community can expect—from the Trump administration.
- Reduced regulation from Waters of the U.S.
- A refusal to use the Endangered Species Act to regulate in ways that do not recognize the value of peaceful coexistence of agriculture in a diverse landscape.
- A refusal to release sensitive and private data on farmers because an “ecological lawyer” wants it.
- An end to the EPA giving taxpayer dollars to activist groups so they can campaign against agriculture.
Source: Southeast Farm Press