[Senate Hearing 115-601]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 115-601
NOMINATION HEARING:
GREGORY IBACH, TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY
PROGRAMS, AND
WILLIAM NORTHEY, TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
FOR FARM AND
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
OCTOBER 5, 2017
__________
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Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
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COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas, Chairman
THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan
MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
JONI ERNST, Iowa MICHAEL BENNET, Colorado
CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota JOE DONNELLY, Indiana
STEVE DAINES, Montana HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota
DAVID PERDUE, Georgia ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania
LUTHER STRANGE, Alabama CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland
James A. Glueck, Jr., Majority Staff Director
DaNita M. Murray, Majority Chief Counsel
Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk
Joseph A. Shultz, Minority Staff Director
Mary Beth Schultz, Minority Chief Counsel
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing(s):
Nomination Hearing: Gregory Ibach, to be Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and William
Northey, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services.................................. 1
----------
Thursday, October 5, 2017
STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS
Roberts, Hon. Pat, U.S. Senator from the State of Kansas,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.... 1
Stabenow, Hon. Debbie, U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan... 2
Fischer, Hon. Deb, U.S. Senator from the State of Nebraska....... 4
Sasse, Hon. Ben, U.S. Senator from the State of Nebraska......... 6
Grassley, Hon. Charles, U.S. Senator from the State of Iowa...... 7
Witnesses
Ibach, Gregory, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs.............................. 8
Northey, William, to be Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services.......................................... 10
----------
APPENDIX
Prepared Statements:
Ibach, Gregory............................................... 26
Northey, William............................................. 32
Document(s) Submitted for the Record:
Roberts, Hon. Pat:
Former Chiefs of the Soil Conservation Service and Natural
Resources Conservation Service, letter of support.......... 38
Growth Energy, letter of support............................. 39
Nebraska Cattlemen, letter of support........................ 40
Iowa Corn Growers Association, letter of support............. 41
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, letter of support..... 42
Agriculture Coalition, letter of support..................... 44
Nebraska Soybean Association................................. 46
Sand County Foundation....................................... 47
5-day letter, Committee questionnaire and Office of
Government Ethics Executive Branch Personnel Public
Financial Disclosure Report filed by Gregory Ibach......... 49
5-day letter, Committee questionnaire and Office of
Government Ethics Executive Branch Personnel Public
Financial Disclosure Report filed by William Northey....... 79
Question and Answer:
Ibach, Gregory:
Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts.......... 110
Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow...... 113
Written response to questions from Hon. Joni Ernst........... 121
Written response to questions from Hon. Steve Daines......... 122
Written response to questions from Hon. Patrick J. Leahy..... 123
Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet....... 128
Written response to questions from Hon. Kirsten Gillibrand... 129
Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr..... 131
Written response to questions from Hon. Chris Van Hollen..... 134
Northey, William:
Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts.......... 135
Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow...... 138
Written response to questions from Hon. John Boozman......... 147
Written response to questions from Hon. Joni Ernst........... 148
Written response to questions from Hon. Steve Daines......... 149
Written response to questions from Hon. Patrick J. Leahy..... 150
Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet....... 157
Written response to questions from Hon. Kirsten Gillibrand... 159
Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr..... 160
Written response to questions from Hon. Chris Van Hollen..... 162
NOMINATION HEARING:
GREGORY IBACH, TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS, AND.
WILLIAM NORTHEY, TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
FOR FARM AND
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
----------
Thursday, October 5, 2017
United States Senate,
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,
Washington, DC
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:33 a.m., in SR-
328A, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Pat Roberts,
Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Roberts, Boozman, Hoeven, Ernst,
Grassley, Thune, Stabenow, Brown, Klobuchar, Bennet,
Gillibrand, Donnelly, Heitkamp, and Casey.
STATEMENT OF HON. PAT ROBERTS, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
KANSAS, CHAIRMAN, U.S. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND
FORESTRY
Chairman Roberts. I call this hearing of the Senate
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to order.
I thank my colleagues for joining me in reviewing the
nominations of the individuals before us today, Mr. Gregory
Ibach of Nebraska for the position of Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Mr. William Northey of
Iowa for the position of Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services.
This Committee has been reviewing nominations expeditiously
on a bipartisan basis. It is crucial to have leadership tending
to these very important mission areas at the Department of
Agriculture.
Secretary Perdue, the Department's 29 agencies and offices,
and nearly 100,000 employees have been covering the bases.
However, they need help in carrying out these missions on
behalf of America's farmers, ranchers, growers, consumers, and
businesses.
The Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs,
to which Mr. Ibach has been nominated, oversees key programs
and offices at the Department. This Under Secretary leads
activities related to plant health, animal care, veterinary
services, wildlife management, the promotion of U.S.
commodities, regulation of biotech and its labeling on food,
organics, and many other responsibilities. That is quite a job.
This diverse range of responsibilities requires an
individual at the helm who has equally diverse skills and
experience. Anyone familiar with Mr. Ibach and his background
knows he is well suited to this role.
The position of Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services, to which Mr. Northey has been nominated,
oversees the commodity and producer lending and crop
insurance--that is crop insurance, the most important
mismanagement tool in the farmer's toolbox. It is called ``crop
insurance.''
Senator Stabenow. Crop insurance?
Chairman Roberts. Crop insurance.
Senator Stabenow. Crop insurance. Okay.
Chairman Roberts. Especially for cherry trees.
[Laughter.]
Chairman Roberts. --conservation and disaster programs.
While the Committee is considering the nomination for the
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
role, the expectation is that subsequent legislation will
officially change the name of the role to Under Secretary for
Farm Production and Conservation.
Along with the Farm Service Agency and the Risk Management
Agency, Secretary Perdue's proposed reorganization will also
bring the Natural Resources Conservation Service into a
producer-and customer-focused mission area.
Both Mr. Ibach and Mr. Northey have valuable boots-on-the-
ground experience. They are both farmers. They know what weighs
on the minds of farmers and ranchers, the challenges they face
on daily basis, and the focus and drive that they put into
their life's work. Significantly, they are both dedicated
public servants who have led their home State's agriculture
departments. That is unique. That is special.
I am pleased the Committee is considering your nominations
today. Getting you both to work at the Department is critical
because the roles to which you have each been nominated carry
out functions related to the Department's day-to-day
interaction with farmers, ranchers, and growers that impact
their daily lives.
These nominees have the support of more than 60 farm and
conservation organizations. Without objection, I am entering
the letters of support into the record at this point.
We have a good record to date, and it is my hope that the
Committee consider and approve your nominations as quickly as
possible so we can send them to the full Senate for
consideration.
I look forward to your testimony. I now turn to my
distinguished colleague, Senator Stabenow, for her opening
remarks.
STATEMENT OF HON. DEBBIE STABENOW, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE
OF MICHIGAN
Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,
and I am very pleased to be here as well with colleagues to
consider two more USDA nominees.
Mr. Northey and Mr. Ibach, congratulations to both of you.
Welcome to your families. I enjoyed very much speaking with
both of you.
As we have heard from farmers and ranchers all across the
country, we know that American agriculture is facing tough
times. Low commodity prices have pinched margins, and extreme
weather has decimated crops from the High Plains to the
Southeast.
I know that both of you are farmers. You understand these
challenges and know that our farmers need leaders that will
speak up for them when their voices are not being heard. Our
farmers deserve strong and qualified leaders who will fight for
all of American agriculture.
Mr. Northey and Mr. Ibach, with your Iowan and Nebraskan
roots--and it is wonderful to have our Senate colleagues here
with us today as well--I know you understand that production
agriculture is an important component to our farm economy.
However, the true strength of American agriculture is rooted in
the diversity of what we grow.
My home State is very proud to have more crop diversity
than any other State except California, and we are working on
that. Driving down the road, you will see corn and soybeans and
wheat on one side, and you can see apple orchards and asparagus
and cherry trees on the other side.
However, past Farm Bills have been focused on commodities.
For example, risk management programs were only available to
traditional commodity farmers on one side of the road until we
worked together in the last Farm Bill. But what you grow should
not determine about whether or not your farm can be protected
from losses.
All farmers deserve a safety net, which is why I am so
pleased we are able to expand access to tools like crop
insurance for specialty crop growers, and importantly, I
believe we need to take that step for dairy farmers as well.
Mr. Northey, if confirmed to lead USDA's farm services and
risk management agencies, we need your commitment to make crop
insurance stronger and more accessible to every farmer, no
matter who they are and what they grow.
You will also oversee the Natural Resource Conservation
Service, which means you will have to balance a lot of
responsibilities, which we talked about in my office.
I represent the Great Lake State. The Agriculture Committee
also represents our Great Lakes system, and for me, no matter
where you are in Michigan, you are no more than 6 miles away
from a body of water. So protecting our rivers, lakes, and
streams is incredibly important to me and to the people in
Michigan. I know as well it is important to other Members of
the Committee.
I know you personally understand that agriculture needs to
be a part of the solution in addressing water quality issues,
and if confirmed for this role, I urge you to continue to
prioritize the protection of our land and our water.
Mr. Ibach, if confirmed, you will be overseeing a very
large and diverse mission area as well. One minute, you will
find yourself enforcing international trade agreements,
safeguarding our agreements, and at the same time, you will be
safeguarding the integrity of the National Organic Program
abroad.
The next minute, you will be providing guidance to help
farmers transition to organic production and tap into new
markets at home.
At all times, you will be on call to defend our food system
against some of the most pressing threats to animal and plant
health. Specialty crops are particularly susceptible to
invasive pests, and we have seen devastating impacts on
cherries and other fruit and vegetables in my State.
Your portfolio would also put you in the driver's seat of
many exciting opportunities for American agriculture. The
growing demand for local food has created new ways for our
farmers to connect to consumers, especially new and beginning
farmers as well.
Back home, I see more and more Michigan-Made signs in
grocery stores, and we like to see that. This is a trend that I
hope will continue, and I hope you will commit to supporting
our local food system economy.
Mr. Northey and Mr. Ibach, if confirmed, your work and
leadership will have a tremendous impact on my State, on the
States of the Members of this Committee, and all of American
agriculture and, frankly, all of American families.
When Secretary Perdue came before this Committee earlier
this year, he pledged to be a strong and tenacious advocate for
American agriculture. Today, we ask that you join him in that
commitment and fight for the resources that our farmers and
ranchers need and deserve.
Thank you.
Chairman Roberts. As is our tradition in the Agriculture
Committee, I would like to recognize the family and friends of
the nominees who have gathered here today. Please stand and be
recognized. Do not be bashful.
[Applause.]
Chairman Roberts. It is also a privilege to welcome
Congressman Adrian Smith from Nebraska here to support his
friend and colleague, Greg Ibach.
Congressman, if you would stand, please, and be recognized.
Thank you for coming, sir.
[Applause.]
Chairman Roberts. I know it is tough to get up in the
morning and figure out you have to come to the upper body.
[Laughter.]
Chairman Roberts. Sorry about that. I used to be over
there.
Thank you all for joining us at this important hearing.
Greg Ibach will be introduced now by Senator Deb Fischer
and Senator Ben Sasse.
Senator Fischer, it is an honor to have you with us today.
Senator Fischer is an honorary member of the Agriculture
Committee, I would tell the Ranking Member, you know that.
Thank you for taking the time to introduce Mr. Ibach. You are
recognized at this particular time. Thank you, ma'am.
STATEMENT OF HON. DEB FISCHER, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
NEBRASKA
Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
Stabenow and to my colleagues here on this Committee. I thank
you for inviting me here today.
I am honored to introduce my fellow Nebraskan and my good
friend, Greg Ibach, the nominee to serve as Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
Greg is no stranger to agriculture. In the beef State, we
are home to the Nation's top cattle producers and best Ag
leaders.
Some of you may remember our great friend, Nebraskan and
former Member of this Committee, Senator Mike Johanns. As a
former Secretary of USDA, he knew a thing or two about
agriculture. When Senator Johanns was Governor of our State, he
appointed Greg to serve as assistant director for the Nebraska
Department of Agriculture.
Senator Johanns made an excellent choice because Greg went
on to serve as Nebraska's director of agriculture, a position
he has now held for the past 12 years. Every step of the way,
Greg has demonstrated his dedication to the unsung heroes of
the American dinner table--our farmers and ranchers.
I am also pleased to introduce Greg's wife, Teresa, and his
daughter, Emily, who are with him here today. I thank both of
them for sharing Greg with the State of Nebraska over the
years.
I think everyone in this room today can agree our successes
would not be possible without the sacrifices of our loved ones,
so I thank them.
Growing up on his family's cow-calf and row-crop operation
outside of Sumner, Nebraska, laid a strong foundation for Greg
to serve his fellow agriculture producers. He understands the
unique challenges our farmers and ranchers face because he is
completely immersed in this industry.
As Nebraska's director of agriculture, Greg has worked
tirelessly to promote common-sense policies that allow
producers to do what they do best, to feed the world. This
includes opening foreign markets for Nebraska's high-quality
agriculture products and hosting international trade groups at
Nebraska ranches, feed yards, and food manufacturers.
Under Greg's leadership, Nebraska gained market access in
regions of the world that had previously been shut off to
American producers. For example, Greg and I worked together to
reopen the Israeli market to Nebraska beef for the first time
in 13 years. Throughout this process, Greg demonstrated his
unique capacity to work with many different stakeholders at the
local, State, and national level to ensure that producers
prospered. At the USDA, he will serve America's farmers and
ranchers with the same knowledge, passion, and dedication.
The last few years have been tough for agriculture. To
continue being global leaders in food, fiber, and fuel
production, Nebraska's and America's producers need regulatory
certainty. For too long, USDA has been encased in bureaucratic
ambiguity. This does not garner confidence from those in rural
America who earn their living off the land. But fortunately,
under Secretary Perdue's leadership, that status quo is
changing.
As State Ag director, Greg was charged with regulatory
responsibilities in the areas of animal and plant health,
weights and measures, as well as food safety and consumer
protection. He has an uncanny ability to build relationships by
communicating with regulators and also with producers. This is
a needed skill for the next Under Secretary of Agriculture for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs. I am confident that Greg's
experience leading the Nebraska Department of Agriculture,
coupled with his real-world, personal understanding of farm
country, make him highly qualified to serve at the USDA.
There is much at stake for agriculture in America right
now. Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, I urge you and the
Committee to quickly approve Greg's nomination and bring it to
the floor of the Senate so that we can vote on this
confirmation. Secretary Perdue needs his team in place to
better serve our farmers and ranchers so that they can do their
job of feeding the world, and Greg's role, if he is confirmed,
is critically important in executing this mission.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Roberts. Senator Fischer, thank you for that very
fine introduction, and I will turn to Senator Sasse.
Senator Sasse, welcome back to the Committee. We have
missed your pertinent, unique, and 35-cent word commentary, and
we would like to--you might want to consider coming back. We
welcome you now, sir, for any remarks you would like to make on
behalf of Mr. Ibach.
STATEMENT OF HON. BEN SASSE, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
NEBRASKA
Senator Sasse. Thank you, sir. I feel like I need to do
math around 35 cents times how much money I owe you for the
notes you have slipped to me for words to work in today, but,
Chairman, thank you, Ranking Member, Members of the Committee.
It is great to be here, and it is a privilege to follow my
senior Senator and be able to introduce Greg Ibach.
As you know, Greg has been nominated to be USDA Under
Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Nobody
outworks Nebraskans, and nobody knows this better than Greg
Ibach. Greg has built his entire career and his whole life on
honesty and on hustle. He is the man for the job, and
Nebraskans could not be prouder of the President's selection.
A Nebraskan through and through, Greg has served our State
and our agriculture community very well. As has been mentioned,
he served three different governors in our State department of
ag, and it is a confluence of his life's work, farming,
ranching, and promoting Nebraska agriculture.
Nebraskans know that our State's agricultural trade has
grown in the global marketplace partly because of Greg's
tireless efforts to promote our commodities across the globe.
Greg built and maintained stakeholder relationships and
initiated strategies to promote Nebraska ag, both domestically
and internationally, allowing us to become the breadbasket of
the world.
Greg will bring a personal vigor to the USDA as he analyzes
issues, develops strategies, and creates solutions for many of
these global initiatives. Greg has a proven public service
record that is defined by executing innovative strategies and
consensus among broad and diversified and often competing
constituencies and stakeholders.
Greg has empowered the employees that have worked with and
for him at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to achieve
the shared visionary goals that you have heard Secretary Perdue
lay out before this Committee for the U.S. Department of Ag,
both to promote more economic opportunity and to help rural
America thrive.
Greg's unrelenting work has expanded youth involvement and
leadership in agriculture as well. For years, he has brought
high school juniors and seniors from around our State together
to explore careers in Ag through the Nebraska Agriculture Youth
Institute, an institute that is now 46 years old, the longest-
running youth institute for agriculture in America, and Greg
personally brings more than 200 students every year to Lincoln
to explore careers in Ag across our State. Greg understands
what the future of agriculture looks like, and his leadership
at the USDA should bring comfort to hardworking producers and
to hungry consumers across the country.
Again, Chairman and Ranking Member and Members of the
Committee, it is a pleasure on behalf of the State of Nebraska
to introduce Greg to you and his wife, Teresa, and I am
absolutely confident that all of you will find it a great
privilege and pleasure to be able to work with Greg.
Thanks for having us.
Chairman Roberts. Thank you, Senator.
It occurs to me with two Senators, Mr. Ibach, that perhaps
you have enough significant influence to bring Nebraska back to
the Big 12 where you belong.
[Laughter.]
Chairman Roberts. I now turn to Senator Grassley to
introduce our next nominee, Bill Northey from Iowa.
Senator Grassley.
STATEMENT OF HON. CHUCK GRASSLEY, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE
OF IOWA
Senator Grassley. First of all, let me explain to the
nominee and to the Committee that after I introduce him, I will
not be back because I have all four of my committees meeting
today and particularly the Budget Committee that will take
hours and hours, so I hope you will understand that I do not
think any less of your nomination because I am not here to hear
everything you say, but I know you well.
Also, to the Members of the Committee, it is an honor for
me to introduce Bill Northey, Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture,
to this Committee. I consider him a friend as well as our
Secretary of Agriculture, and let me explain to the Committee
that this is a special honor for me to introduce him. It kind
of returns a favor because his dad, 30 years ago, served on my
Agriculture Committee for the campaign, my first campaign for
the Senate, and you do not forget people like that because I
was not the candidate of the Iowa Republican establishment at
that particular time, and so I feel a great closeness to the
Northey family.
Mr. Northey has been nominated to serve as Under Secretary
for Farm Production and Conservation at our USDA, and he has
been our Iowa Secretary of Agriculture since 2006. During his
tenure, he has focused on soil conservation and helping develop
a robust renewable energy industry that we have in Iowa. He was
also in that position when he had to deal with a very serious
crisis that we had for chickens and turkeys with the high-path
avian influenza outbreak, which occurred in 2015.
Secretary Northey understands agriculture. He is a fourth-
generation farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa, where he raises corn
and soybeans. He appreciates the ins and outs of farming and
what it is like to put your life savings on the line every year
to grow a crop in rural America that will feed and fuel the
world.
Secretary Northey has served on the Iowa Farm Service
Agency Committee for his county and also for the State and was
president of the National Corn Growers Association for the
years '96 and '97.
He has also traveled the world visiting over 15 countries
to promote U.S. agriculture.
Secretary Northey graduated from Iowa State in 1981 with a
degree in Agribusiness and has an MBA from Southwest Minnesota
State University.
Perhaps his most important quality is his vision that he
has shown leading the Iowa Department of Agriculture. As an
example, Bill was focused on water quality issues in Iowa years
before many farmers and press outlets became engaged, and I say
that and emphasize it for the benefit of my colleague from
Michigan.
I cannot think of anyone better equipped to ensure our
Nation's farm programs are properly administered than this Iowa
Secretary Northey. We are lucky to have someone of his
capability ready to lead the agencies he will be responsible
for.
So, Secretary Northey, welcome to the Committee.
Chairman Roberts. Thank you, Senator. We appreciate your
commentary.
As is the tradition and custom of the Committee before
nominee witnesses are to provide their testimony, I must
administer the oath. If both of you could please stand and
raise your right hands.
First, do you swear that the testimony you are about to
present is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God?
Mr. Northey. I do.
Mr. Ibach. I do.
Chairman Roberts. Second, do you agree that if confirmed,
you will appear before any duly constituted committee of
Congress if asked to appear?
Mr. Northey. I do.
Mr. Ibach. I do.
Chairman Roberts. Thank you.
We look forward to your testimony.
Mr. Ibach.
TESTIMONY OF GREGORY IBACH, NOMINEE TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS
Mr. Ibach. Good morning, Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member
Stabenow, and Members of the Committee. Thank you for the
opportunity to appear before you today to discuss my desire to
serve the American public as President's nominee--President
Trump's nominee as the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs.
I am honored to be nominated by the President and humbled
by the trust and confidence that Secretary Perdue has shown in
selecting me for this position.
I also want to thank Senator Fischer and Senator Sasse for
their very kind introductions and their steadfast support of me
throughout the nomination process.
I also want to thank Congressman Smith, who is here today,
for his support of my nomination as well.
I am honored to have Steve Nelson, Craig Uden, and Lynn
Crisp representing Nebraska's production agriculture community
in attendance as well today.
I am joined today by my wife, Teresa. Her support and love
for the last 29 years has provided me the opportunity to serve
as the assistant director and director of the Nebraska
Department of Agriculture for almost 20 years.
We are the proud parents of triplets, who are 25 years old.
Our daughter Emily, from Denver, is with us here today, and our
son Evan, who lives in Minneapolis, and son Alec and his wife
Meredith, who live in Carney, Nebraska, were unable to attend.
I am proud that my children represent the fourth generation on
my mother's side of the family and the fifth generation on my
father's side of the family to farm and ranch in northeast
Dawson County, Nebraska, near the small town of Sumner.
Our family farm consists of row-crop and cow-calf
enterprises. As is the case with many farm operations in our
country, our farm has weathered many difficult times because of
persistence, communication, and teamwork. I look forward to
bringing those same principles to USDA, if I am confirmed.
The principles of hard work and dedication that I learned
working alongside my parents growing up nurtured a love of
agriculture and led me to attend the University of Nebraska,
where I majored in animal science and agricultural economics.
Following graduation from college in 1984 during the heart
of the historic farm crisis, I spent 6 years working for the
farm credit system in Iowa and Nebraska. I then returned to the
farm to pursue my love of production agriculture, and with the
assistance of my parents and grandparents, Teresa and I started
our own family farming operation and raised our three children.
Those years also provided key opportunities to become
involved in the organizations that represented our family's
farm operation. I was involved in our county and State Farm
Bureau; our county, State and national cattlemen's
organizations, where I achieved leadership positions at both
the State and national levels.
I was honored in 1999 to be asked by Governor Mike Johanns
to serve as assistant director of Department of Agriculture and
then by Governor Dave Heineman and Governor Pete Ricketts to
serve as director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
During my tenure as director, I was also elected to serve as
president of the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture.
I have approached my tenure at the department with service
to Nebraska's nearly 50,000 family farm and ranch families in
mind. I believe my status as an active producer has been
essential to my role within the department. That said, however,
I also recognize and have an appreciation for the structure of
government and its role in protecting and serving all citizens.
The MRP mission area is comprised of many programs focused
on improving market competitiveness for the overall benefit of
consumers and producers of American agriculture. If honored to
receive your confirmation, I will work faithfully to implement
the authorities outlined by Congress.
Balancing two priorities--the first representing and
promoting the interest of farmers and ranchers; and the second,
overseeing entities that regulate them--can be a difficult
task. However, the word ``balance'' is key to that equation.
By maintaining balance, MRP can achieve Secretary Perdue's
Department-wide goals of supporting job creating, prioritizing
customer service, and ensuring our communities access to a safe
and secure food supply.
I am also committed to promoting the market opportunities
and protecting the integrity associated with the organic seal,
while maintaining and preserving and protecting our natural
resources.
I am also keenly aware of my responsibility to maintain
plant and animal health and well-being as well.
Each day, my decisions will be tempered by two principles:
How will regulatory programs and promotional activities improve
the opportunities not only for my neighbors in Sumner but also
Americans across the country? I recognize the weighty
responsibility to maintain consumer confidence in the products
produced and the production methods implemented.
If confirmed, I pledge to be available to listen to you,
other Members of Congress, and the many diverse voices of
agriculture who will have ideas and input for the programs
under my supervision.
Thank you again for your attention and consideration of my
nomination. I will be humbled to serve, if confirmed, and would
look forward to working together to serve American agriculture.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Ibach can be found on page
26 in the appendix.]
Chairman Roberts. We thank you, Greg.
Mr. Northey.
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM NORTHEY, NOMINEE TO BE UNDER SECRETARY FOR
FARM AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
Mr. Northey. Well, good morning, Mr. Chairman, Ranking
Member Stabenow, and distinguished Members of the Committee. I
am honored to appear before you today as the President's
nominee for USDA FFAS having responsibilities for the farm
production and conservation mission area with responsibilities
for Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Natural
Resources Conservation Service.
I thank the President for nominating me and appreciate
Secretary Perdue's support and trust in my ability to take on
this new role.
I thank Senator Grassley for his kind words of introduction
this morning and Senator Ernst for her support and
encouragement. I am humbled.
I want to thank my wife, Cindy, and daughter, Katie, who
are with me here today. Cindy, without your sacrifice and love,
I would not be here today. I also want to thank our daughters,
Jessica and Emily, their husbands, Thomas and Eric, our five
grandkids. I thank you my parents as well, Wayne and Margaret
Northey, my sister, Nancy, who are all sitting in front of
their computers at home in Spirit Lake intently watching this
hearing.
I am a corn and soybean farmer from Northwest Iowa. My
farming roots go back several generations on both sides of my
family. Cindy and I raised our three daughters on the farm my
grandfather bought in the 1930s. On my mom's side of the
family, a farm first bought by her great-grandfather celebrated
its 150th year in our family and is now owned and operated by
my mom's cousin.
I began serving in the Iowa Corn Growers boards of
directors in the 1980s and eventually served as president of
both the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the National Corn
Growers Association.
I was involved in some of the early important work on
ethanol, the development of an awful important industry to many
of us in this room. I also worked on Farm Bill, trade and
environmental policies while at Corn Growers.
I served 8 years on the local soil and water conservation
district board and 5 years on the State Iowa Farm Service
Agency Committee.
In 2006, I was elected president of the--or I was elected
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and reelected in 2010 and 2014
and still serve in that capacity today.
I have continued farming while serving as Secretary of
Agriculture, getting most of my farming done on weekends and at
nights.
Being Secretary has given me the opportunity to visit lots
of parts of Iowa, including what we call the ``full Grassley''
in Iowa. That is visiting all 99 counties at least once every
year. I have done it for 10 years. The Senator has done it for
over 30 years. It is one of the best parts of the job to be
able to understand and see the folks in the countryside.
But being Secretary has also given me the opportunity to be
able to travel to many of your states and meet some of your
producers, certainly develop friendships with other State
Secretaries, directors, and commissioners of agriculture.
If confirmed, I look forward to being able to travel more
and be able to better understand the needs of your producers,
to be able to meet more of our great producers across this
country.
You have heard Secretary Perdue and his goal for better
customer service, and certainly, customer service improvements
must be measurable. They will require better cooperation
between agencies, and I believe housing NRCS, FSA, and RMA in
the same mission area is a step in that right direction.
We also need to engage new technologies to be able to allow
efficiencies and the responsiveness improvements that need to
happen as well.
I thank you for the time and your staff's time in meeting
and leading up to this hearing and sharing your thoughts and
concerns about RMA, FSA, and NRCS. I heard strong support for
NRCS and its mission and both concern and support for the
combination of NRCS with FSA and RMA. If given the opportunity
to serve, I look forward to strengthening each of these
agencies to ensuring that this move leads to better customer
service and reporting back to this Committee on the progress of
such efforts.
In our meetings, many of you commented on the operation of
FSA disaster programs as well following the wildfires,
droughts, and hurricanes, including the challenges faced by
producers in Puerto Rico. While I have not been briefed on the
efforts within USDA to address these issues, I believe
certainly FSA, NRCS, and RMA have important roles to play, and
if confirmed, ensuring our producers in these areas are getting
all the support they need from USDA will be a top priority.
I will read it as I wrote it: Crop insurance is the most
important part of the farm safety net, Mr. Chairman, and
through RMA, we need to ensure that we maintain this vital tool
for producers. While our farm safety net has worked for many,
many producers, I do also hear that there are producers that
are left out, and I am committed to this Committee to work with
all of you to make sure that all producers have the risk
management tools that they need.
So I will be an advocate within the administration for the
producers in the countryside. I look forward to working with
all of you, and I appreciate this tremendous opportunity to be
involved and serve our country's producers.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Northey can be found on page
32 in the appendix.]
Chairman Roberts. We thank you, Mr. Northey.
Unfortunately, we have three votes that are scheduled.
These are 15-minute votes, which means they are 30-minute
votes, and we will do the best that we can here going to vote
and coming back. I know also that several Members are on the
Budget Committee. They have a very important meeting today as
well, so we are going to get through this as best we can.
Mr. Ibach, foreign animal disease threats are a growing
concern for producers and animal health experts. In recent
years, outbreaks of disease such as avian influenza have
demonstrated the vulnerability of animal agriculture to these
threats. If confirmed, you will be leading the Department's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, known as APHIS. Can
you briefly describe some priorities you will pursue as Under
Secretary that relate to safeguarding animal, agriculture, and
our national security as a result?
Mr. Ibach. Yes. Thank you.
APHIS is perhaps maybe one of the most important roles that
I will serve in USDA because if we are not able to keep
diseases and pests that are not in the United States out of the
United States or control and contain the ones that we do have,
we put our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and producers at great
risk.
So we will take that responsibility very seriously. I look
forward to learning more about each and every program that
addresses those concerns and issues and working with producers
to implement proper biosecurity across the board to be able to
help produce, protect, and safeguard our Nation's crops and
livestock.
Thank you.
Chairman Roberts. I appreciate that.
The vote has been called. I am going to vote, but I am
going to ask you one more question here and then come back and
allow the distinguished Ranking Member to cast her vote as
well.
While farmers and ranchers feel stifled by many government
regulations, to say the least, every now and then, there are
those regulations that actually help streamline business and
can reduce burdens. One example is a proposed rule pertaining
to APHIS, categorical exclusions from certain review processes.
The effect of implementing this rule will be quicker
development and deployment of important veterinary biologics,
such as vaccines that are used in managing animal disease
outbreaks. Can you commit to shepherding this rule through the
Government review process?
Mr. Ibach. I was--thank you for that question. That is an
important issue.
I must admit I am not fully briefed on that, and I realized
during our conversation, you were--that was an important issue
to you as well. I do pledge to become very informed on that
issue and work with you and other Members of the Committee to
understand your priorities and make the best decision possible,
if confirmed.
Chairman Roberts. Mr. Northey, you have already--I think
you have answered this question with regards to crop insurance,
but basically, if confirmed as Under Secretary, will you
protect crop insurance from attacks like premium subsidy
reductions, caps, or adjusted gross income limits? How will you
work to improve these risk management tools for producers
across the country?
Mr. Northey. I look forward to working with you, Mr.
Chairman, the Committee as well, Members of the House to
support the very important risk management tool that crop
insurance is.
Chairman Roberts. As Iowa Secretary of Ag, you have direct
experience working on conservation issues in your home State.
If confirmed, you will be overseeing conservation programs
nationwide administered by both the Farm Service Agency and the
NRCS. How will you work to ensure that the USDA voluntary
conservation programs--voluntary conservation programs, you
have background in this--are administered in a balanced
approach that meets natural resource needs?
Mr. Northey. You know, I think it is--Mr. Chairman, so many
partnerships are important to be able to deliver these
programs.
So in the State of Iowa, we have been able to partner with
NRCS, with private organizations, and be able to create
watershed projects.
The voluntary nature of these programs is what engages
producers, and so it is very important that these programs work
well for producers, such that they are interested in
participating. Part of that is being able to understand the
relevance and making sure that these are working in all parts
of the country.
I am very familiar with some of the issues within the
Midwest. I need to do more homework and understand some of the
issues in other places as well.
Chairman Roberts. Thank you for that.
Senator Stabenow.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
We know that you both understand that it is a busy day with
a lot of things happening, and so we apologize for the comings
and goings.
But I want to take a moment to talk about the budget. The
President had originally proposed a huge cut to the Farm Bill,
including a $29 billion cut to crop insurance and $6 billion to
conservation. The Congress is rejecting that level of cut, but
today, I am going to be going to the Budget Committee, where
there is built into the baseline, a $21 billion cut in farm
programs. That does not count the cuts to nutrition programs,
which are separate.
I am heartened by Chairman Roberts and Chairman Conway in
the House indicating they believe there is some flexibility in
that, but I am very concerned about what is going to be
happening here. The fact that we in the last Farm Bill, if you
count the direct cuts and the savings and the policy that we
put in place, the budget office says we will have saved over 10
years about $100 billion, which is unique to committees to be
able to do that voluntarily.
Given what is happening with farm prices and the challenges
that farmers have, I am very concerned that we should not be
put in a position to be cutting more from supports for farmers
and conservation and so on.
Let me just take a moment. I am going to ask just very
quickly, to hear your position on the following issues. Mr.
Northey, you have talked about crop insurance, we know you
support crop insurance. But just yes or no, do you support
opening up crop insurance to more crops so that more types of
farmers can participate?
Mr. Northey. Yes.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you.
Do you support working lands conservation programs?
Mr. Northey. Yes.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you.
Do you support conservation partnerships that leverage
Federal dollars with private dollars to help farmers address
issues like water quality, drought, and wildlife habitat?
Mr. Northey. Sure do. Yes.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you.
Mr. Ibach, do you support programs that help specialty crop
growers access new markets, protect against pest and disease,
and promote their products?
Mr. Ibach. I do.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you very much.
Do you support Farm Bill programs that promote direct-to-
consumer markets, including farmers markets?
Mr. Ibach. Yes.
Senator Stabenow. Do you support continued development of
local and regional food systems?
Mr. Ibach. Yes.
Senator Stabenow. Do you think Americans living in a food
desert should have access to healthy, affordable food?
Mr. Ibach. Of course.
Senator Stabenow. So just to both of you, given the budget
situation that we are in right now, will you each advocate
strongly to the White House to protect the USDA's budget and
commit to supporting the programs that are authorized and
appropriated by Congress?
Mr. Ibach?
Mr. Ibach. I commit to doing the best job with the
resources that the Congress designates to my programs within
MRP, and I also commit to looking for efficiencies moving
forward that allow us to do more with less.
Senator Stabenow. We certainly want efficiencies, and we
need strong advocacy as well, so thank you.
Mr. Northey?
Mr. Northey. Yes. I look forward to certainly supporting
Secretary Perdue's comments and be an advocate for agriculture
in those needs in agriculture and working with this Committee
and Members of the House as well and being able to make sure
that we stretch that budget as far as we can, but we have the
resources necessary as well.
Senator Stabenow. Thank you very much.
I have additional questions, and in the interest of time,
so my colleagues can ask questions, I will submit them to the
record.
I just want to indicate I have enjoyed very much having the
opportunity to meet privately with you and to address issues in
particular that are of concern to Michigan, and I look forward
to supporting you as you move through this process.
Mr. Northey. Thank you very much.
Senator Stabenow. I think Senator Thune is taking over from
here. I am told to turn to Senator Thune----
Senator Thune. [Presiding.] Okay.
Senator Stabenow. --and then to Senator Klobuchar. So,
Senator Thune, I am passing the gavel to you.
Senator Thune. Thank you, Senator Stabenow, and to you and
the Chairman for holding this hearing, and thanks to our
nominees for your willingness to serve. We are grateful for you
brining your skills to bear on the important work of American
agriculture.
Mr. Northey, you have worked at USDA now--with USDA, I
should say, over three terms as the Iowa Secretary of
Agriculture, and I am sure that you have been frustrated as I
have over the bureaucratic processes that sometimes hamper
achieving desired results.
As an example, during this past drought-stricken summer in
the Northern Plains, extreme forage and grazing shortages
forced many grazing livestock producers to reduce their herds.
CRP emergency haying and grazing was a critical source of
feed, and I appreciate Secretary Perdue's cooperation in
opening CRP for haying and grazing, yet it took weeks for
approval to open up all reasonably available acres.
As one of your first priorities, I want to urge you to
review administrative processes in the three mission areas
under your jurisdiction and see what we might be able to do to
expedite some of these administrative authorities when needed.
Is that something you would commit to doing?
Mr. Northey. I would. Yes, Senator.
Senator Thune. Pending your confirmation--well, let me skip
to this next question. Based on your experience as Iowa
Secretary of Agriculture, would you agree that more flexibility
in the management of CRP, such as allowing CRP practices to be
grazed on a limited basis or hayed one-third of each contract
every year would enhance the productivity and simplify the
management of the CRP program?
Mr. Northey. Yeah. I think there is certainly--it is
important to be able to understand the needs and opportunities
for producers that provided some flexibility within the
guidelines of the program, and so if confirmed, I am very
interested in being able to talk about additional flexibilities
and understand what the law allows and what would be beneficial
to producers and to managing that natural resource.
Senator Thune. Good, good.
Well, and to the degree that you have authority--and we
think that you do--we have been trying for a long time to get
greater flexibility in management, particularly as mid-contract
management practices, which are just completely contrary to we
think what is sound in terms of promoting not only good
wildlife production but environmental practices and everything
else that goes with it.
There are certain CRP practices that are designated as
environmentally sensitive, and there appears to be an interim
administrative action that USDA has imposed over the years,
which limits the use of these so-called designated areas and
management practice. Would you support removing these
environmentally sensitive designations on CRP acres? These are
practices that, again, have been applied in the past, but we do
not think make a lot of sense and have been very hard to get
freed up for emergency haying and grazing through the years
when we have had circumstances that required it.
Mr. Northey. I am not familiar with that issue. I would
certainly look forward to being briefed. If confirmed, I would
love to be able to work with you and your staff in
understanding the needs of your producers, but I would need to
do some homework on that issue.
Senator Thune. Well, I would just point out that in 2012
and 2017, which were drought years, these environmentally
sensitive acres, CRP contracts were opened up for emergency
haying and grazing, without negative consequences that I am
aware of. In fact, in most cases, we were able to get the
wildlife groups in support of that, and I think that the record
will show that was not something that had any adverse impact.
So, again, it is another one of those bureaucratic sort of
administrative roadblocks that we think make it more difficult
to meet the needs to producers out there who in drought
conditions for sure are suffering and need some relief.
Let me just ask one more question. I am sorry I am asking--
holding on to this side of the panel. But we have a substantial
demand for CRP right now, both for general and continuous
enrollment, and CRP plays a critical support role in our State
for what is our world-class pheasant hunting. It is estimated
to provide about almost $300 million annually to South Dakota.
What plans do you have to reinstate CRP open enrollment for
the next general signup, and does USDA support a higher acreage
cap, as I do, as part of the 2018 Farm Bill? Just so you know,
I support raising it to 30 million acres. It is at 24 right now
under the current Farm Bill.
Mr. Northey. Well, I know there is a lot of conversation
about the acreage cap going into the next Farm Bill. I
certainly look forward to being a part of those conservations,
if confirmed. I need to have conversations with our Secretary
Perdue and be able to understand exactly what administration's
support is, but CRP is an important program and answers many of
the natural resource needs that are out there.
Certainly, continuous enrollment--I was one of the largest
continuous enrollment CRP States across the country, and that
has allowed us to address nutrient reduction wetlands, buffers,
lots of other important areas. Hitting that cap potentially
limits the ability to be able to add new acres.
So there is a challenge there, but it is a balance amongst
lots of different points of view. We are glad to be a part of
that conversation, if confirmed.
Senator Thune. Well, we look forward to working with you.
You have under your jurisdiction lots of farmers and ranchers
in South Dakota between FSA and NRCS and RMA, so we will have
an opportunity, I am sure, to ask additional questions in the
future.
But I thank you both for your service.
My time has expired.
I am going to pass the gavel now to Senator Hoeven and then
recognize----
Senator Klobuchar. Senator Hoeven, I was just going to ask
two questions before I have to go vote.
So thank you to both of you, and I know that you, Mr.
Northey, went to Southwest Minnesota State University in
Marshall; is that right?
Mr. Northey. I did, yes. Thank you.
Senator Klobuchar. It is very important to add to your
biography. I would suggest that.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. Welcome, both of you. We are excited for
you for your nominations. I will just ask some quick questions
here.
Mr. Northey, 3,500 dairy farmers in Minnesota have been hit
hard by the low milk prices, which have been compounded by new
trade barriers in export markets and ongoing difficulties with
the Margin Protection Program. Do you believe that dairy
producers need additional insurance products to manage their
risk, and can I count on you to help us with this problem?
Mr. Northey. Certainly, if confirmed, I would be very
interested in being able to work to see what kinds of programs
could work better.
We heard many concerns from many Members about the lack of
risk management tools for dairy producers and the challenges
with the MPP.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.
Mr. Ibach, Minnesota is number one for turkeys in the
country, number two for hogs, second only to Iowa.
In Minnesota, we have faced some hardships, as was
discussed earlier, due to disease with both these industries,
some really horrible situations, and will you commit to working
with me to help APHIS better monitor and respond to diseases
like avian influenza?
Mr. Ibach. Yes. I think that the reference that you are
making to the outbreak that we had several years ago was a
chance for not only producers to learn some opportunities that
they have to improve biosecurity and protect themselves but
also a wakeup call to States and the Federal Government to look
into programs and systems to deliver those programs and
benefits that are available in quicker and better ways.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.
Mr. Northey, in Minnesota, CRP is an important voluntary
conservation program, yet during the recent signup, only 149 of
1,367 offers were accepted, 90 percent rejection rate. I know
that USDA must manage the program under the statutory cap of 24
million acres. We know there is substantial demand. What plans
do you have to reinstate CRP open enrollment for the next
general signup, if you are concerned?
Mr. Northey. Well, I would certainly be interested in
understanding the options that are available to USDA with the
cap and the challenges with the acres that are out there.
Obviously, this Committee and Members of the House will
spend a lot of time looking at what the next Farm Bill should
have in it for funding and for a cap on CRP, and that is going
to be an important conversation. I look forward to being a part
of that conversation.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.
I appreciated that you mention the renewable fuel standard.
Pretty important in Minnesota as well.
Thank you, both of you, and I will go and vote and leave it
in the able hands of my colleagues. Thank you.
Chairman Roberts. [Presiding.] Senator Hoeven.
Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Northey, do you agree that crop insurance is the most--
one of the most, if not the most risk management tool for
farmers?
Mr. Northey. Absolutely.
Senator Hoeven. Okay. So you will do everything you can to
support it, strengthen it? You will do everything you can to
support and strengthen it?
Mr. Northey. Yes.
Senator Hoeven. Okay. Also, the loan limits on FSA, I am
working on legislation that would increase those lending limits
on FSA on the direct from $300,000 to $600,000, on the
guarantee for $1.39 million to--what is it? We are going to
about $2.5 million. Do you support increasing those loan limits
for FSA?
Mr. Northey. I certainly look forward to working with you.
That will be a prerogative of Congress in what is a part of
that next Farm Bill.
I would be--I recognize the challenges to producers as the
asset needs have gone up, and we are in a time right now when
producers have a lot of financial challenges.
Senator Hoeven. Yeah. Capital costs for agriculture going
up, wouldn't you say?
Mr. Northey. Right. Yes.
Senator Hoeven. Okay. We have got drought. We have had
drought out in our State of North Dakota, in Montana, South
Dakota as well. Will you help me provide relief to our farmers
and ranchers?
Mr. Northey. Yes.
Senator Hoeven. Okay. ARC and PLC are obviously the key
components of counter-cyclical safety net. Of course, we are
always very deferential to our Chairman on this Committee, but
we are looking at strengthening those programs. Will you work
with us to strengthen those programs?
Mr. Northey. I would very interested in being able to do
that, if confirmed.
Senator Hoeven. What else are your priorities in the Farm
Bill?
Mr. Northey. Certainly, conservation is an important
priority and making sure that our programs are flexible, that
they are funded, and that they can work with many other
partners from the States certainly to the farmers and to others
that can bring some resources to the conservation and water
quality and even soil health effort that is going on across our
country.
Senator Hoeven. Do you support more CRP acreage?
Mr. Northey. I am very interested in what the opportunities
are, and that takes financial resources. This Committee and the
rest of the Members of the Senate and the rest of the Members
of the House will have a lot to say in what that number is. I
am very interested in being able to provide the information
that can help inform that decision, if confirmed.
Senator Hoeven. I am not sure what that answer was.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hoeven. But we are down to 24 million acres, and
there is a pretty strong demand out there for it, particularly
with the current lower commodity prices and so forth.
Mr. Northey. There was an impact by hitting the cap this
last year. So I am not close enough to have been a part of the
conversations within USDA, and so not been briefed on those
pieces, but within the countryside of Iowa, there were some
folks that would have liked to have been able to get their
acreage into CRP. We have hit the cap on some of the continuous
enrollments at CRP as well. Recognize there are constraints as
far as the acreage cap, as far as the dollars for the program,
certainly would be very interested in working with you, as
those are policy decisions that you all are a part of, and
deciding what that will be, we are going to implement the
decisions that Congress gives us, the direction that you all
provide for us.
Senator Hoeven. Well, again, I am not exactly sure what you
said, but the readout I am getting from farmers out there is
they want to see an increase in CRP. It is something that I
will be working on and look forward to working with you on.
I am teasing you a little bit. I know you are saying you
will work with us on it, and I appreciate that very much.
Mr. Northey. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Hoeven. Then, Mr. Ibach, obviously, APHIS is very
important in terms of managing the interface between
agriculture and wildlife and so forth. In our State, we have
great hunting and fishing, and we have even greater
agriculture. So we work with this all the time.
One of the problems we are running into in a big way--we
have in years past, but we certainly are this year again, is
blackbirds, huge--millions and millions of dollars. If you ever
come out there, I mean, it is like Alfred Hitchcock's ``The
Birds.'' You know, it is scary if you are out there by
yourself. I am kidding, but there is a lot of them. Any ideas
on how we can better control the blackbirds, but using that as
an example of managing this interface in an effective way?
Mr. Ibach. We also in Nebraska have seen high populations
of blackbirds as well, so I understand exactly what you are
talking about from my experience as a farmer and rancher and
director in the Department of Agriculture in Nebraska.
But speaking more broadly about looking for solutions to
interface with wildlife, to, of course, be able to preserve and
protect them, when appropriate, but also being able to look out
for the needs of our farmers and ranchers that face the greater
possibility of disease coming into their operations as well as
the damage that wildlife can wreak on livestock as well as
crops, we would need to look at a balanced approach. I used the
word ``balance'' in my opening comments and would look forward
to working together with producer groups and organizations to
find solutions that can have broad support.
Senator Hoeven. Well, I am an avid hunter, and I like to
fish, although my wife is a much better fisher person than I
am.
Mr. Ibach. Last time we went fishing, my wife caught the
bigger fish, too. So it is a bad deal.
Senator Hoeven. Yes, she is a lot better.
But farmer-friendly policies actually work for sportsman.
Mr. Ibach. That is right.
Senator Hoeven. Do you follow me?
Mr. Ibach. That is right.
Senator Hoeven. Because the farmers and ranchers are out
there every single day, and if you want to get permission to--
not so much fish, but certainly to hunt, you have to work with
the farmers. So farmer-friendly policies actually benefit
sportsmen done right, so----
Mr. Ibach. Yeah. I understand that, and over the course of
the last few years across many States, we have seen the
conservation programs that farmers are participating in on a
voluntary basis have increased wildlife not only in Nebraska
but in many States.
Senator Hoeven. Yeah. With creativity, there is a lot we
can do.
Thank you very much to both of you.
Mr. Northey. Thank you.
Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Roberts. Senator Ernst.
Senator Ernst. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you here today.
Mr. Ibach, it was wonderful visiting with you.
Mr. Ibach. Thank you very much.
Senator Ernst. Mr. Northey, it has been wonderful to see
you as well.
I just want to make my commendations for Mr. Northey to the
Committee. It is a pleasure to know you as a colleague back in
the State of Iowa working with the Department of Agriculture in
your capacity there but also as a friend. Thank you so much.
You and your wife, Cindy, are wonderful farmers,
conservationists, and stewards of our land, and we thank you
for your years and years of service to the great State of Iowa.
Mr. Northey--since its inception in 2013, you have been a
stalwart leader and a champion of the Iowa nutrient reduction
strategy, and we have seen the positive impact of this
relatively young program already. We know that continuing our
efforts to promote voluntary incentive-based conservation are
going to yield results in soil health and water quality.
If you could just give us an overview on how has your work
in implementing this program prepared you for taking on the
reins at the NRCS?
Mr. Northey. Thank you, Senator.
It certainly has been a big part of our work at the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship the last 5 or 7
years. Prior to that, we have always been very active in the
soil conservation effort, but as we saw some issues developing,
whether it is Chesapeake Bay, whether it is challenges in the
Great Lakes, certainly the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico,
and then water quality issues within Iowa as well, we decided
we needed to be able to be more proactive looking at water
quality issues. This is reducing nitrate and phosphorus in our
rivers, lakes, or streams, certainly the loss from our farms
but also our urban areas.
So I serve on the Hypoxia Task Force, which is a dozen
States up and down the Mississippi River. It is five Federal
agencies as well that are a part of that. We meet to coordinate
conversations about what we are each doing in our States.
One of the things we agreed to do was put together a
nutrient reduction strategy within each State, and Iowa was one
of the early ones to put that strategy together. Ours is built
on a non-regulatory, proactive conservation water quality
effort.
So since that time, the State of Iowa has caught the vision
as well, and now this year is up to $10.5 million direct
investment in our water quality initiative in Iowa, which has
allowed us to partner with farmers to grow cover crops. At the
time the nutrient reduction strategy was begun, we had less
than 100,000 acres of cover crops in the State of Iowa. This
last year, we were over 600,000 acres. One of our cost-share
programs this year is to offer 50 percent cost share to farmers
that are interested in adding cover crops, and we had 1,000
farmers sign up for their first year of trying cover crops on
their farms.
We have also had added nutrient reduction wetlands. We have
80 of those now. We have bioreactors and saturated buffers. So
the momentum is really growing.
We have a long ways to go? Absolutely. We have lots more
that needs to get done, but what I am excited about is the
momentum, both in the interest of farmers and in bringing lots
of outside groups, leveraging those State dollars, partnering
with our Federal partners, and bringing in lots of other
organizations.
So to me, that has been one of my pride and joys to be a
part of. It certainly has taught me the value of working across
borders. We took farmers down to Mississippi to see what
farmers were doing there. We have been very engaged in
different ways, and I look forward to taking that experience to
NRCS, if confirmed.
Senator Ernst. Fantastic.
I have had the opportunity to go out on watershed tours
with you as well, Mr. Northey, and so we have seen what IDALS,
the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and
what the NRCS, our local farmers, our communities have been
able to do through a number of those projects that you have
just described.
But what role has the RCPP, the Regional Conservation
Partnership Program, played in some of those water quality
initiatives as well?
Mr. Northey. It has been very important. So the RCPP really
helps organize folks, brings some Federal dollars, into
partnerships. It creates partnerships because we will get
together, and to have a good, effective application, you need
many partners, some matching dollars. We have several RCPPs,
including our last largest RCPP--is $9.5 million of Federal
dollars along with $30 million worth of match and about 50
organizations that are a part of that, so local soil and water
conservation districts, watershed projects, private
organizations as well. So it is a great way to leverage tools.
You put folks together in the same room; Sometimes they
come even with slightly different priorities. But you find out
that you can leverage and get more done by working together,
and it has been an important part of that effort.
Senator Ernst. Absolutely. I want to thank you for that
because you really have been a true leader on those water
quality initiatives, and I know that when Iowa came up with
their nutrient management strategy, the EPA even was very
complimentary of the voluntary process and the engagement that
we had throughout Iowa. So I want to compliment you on that.
I know my time has expired, but I look forward to looking
with both of you gentlemen. Thank you so much for your service.
I appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chairman Roberts. Thank you, Senator Ernst. Very good
questions.
That will conclude our hearing today. I thank both nominees
for their thoughtful comments and their engagement with the
Members of this Committee. I also want to thank you for your
willingness to advocate for America's farmers, ranchers, and
growers at the people's Department.
The answers you have provided today will be considered as
we move to approve your nominations in the near future. We are
going to do that as expeditiously as we possibly can.
Expeditious in Senate, perhaps an oxymoron, but we will try to
do that just as soon as we possibly can.
To that end, I would request that if my fellow members have
any additional questions for the record, they be submitted to
the Committee Clerk by 5:00 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, October
6th.
We look forward to receiving your responses, and to further
considering your nominations.
The Committee is adjourned. Thank you, gentlemen.
[Whereupon, at 10:41 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
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