New Ag Secretary Outlines USDA’s Priorities

The new Secretary of Agriculture Tom
Vilsack recently discussed his priorities for USDA. He told reporters he has met with career staff at USDA and made clear that they will be empowered to lead change and provide ideas to move USDA forward, according to Farm Progress.

“It is a top priority for me to fill quickly those positions of responsibility at USDA that I have the privilege to fill,” Vilsack said. “I’m looking for competent, diligent leaders, and we continue to make progress identifying individuals who we think will do well at USDA.”

Currently USDA is in the midst of implementing the regulatory review memo put forward by President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Vilsack has extended the public comment period on the payment limit rule for an additional 60 days.

According to Vilsack, the payment limit rule received a small number of comments, so by extending the comment period they are encouraging people to participate; he went on to clarify that this will not signal an effort to modify rules that are in place for the 2009 crop year.