[Senate Hearing 119-83]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-83
NOMINATIONS OF DUDLEY HOSKINS TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR
MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS
AND DR. SCOTT HUTCHINS, TO BE UNDER
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
May 21, 2025
__________
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available on http://www.govinfo.gov/
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
60-518 PDF WASHINGTON : 2025
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COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Chairman
MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado
JONI ERNST, Iowa TINA SMITH, Minnesota
CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois
ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas CORY BOOKER, New Jersey
TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico
JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia
CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa PETER WELCH, Vermont
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska ADAM SCHIFF, California
JERRY MORAN, Kansas ELISSA SLOTKIN, Michigan
Fitzhugh Elder IV, Majority Staff Director
Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk
Lauren Santabar, Minority Staff Director
Chu-Yuan Hwang, Minority Chief Counsel
C O N T E N T S
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Page
Hearing:
Nominations of Dudley Hoskins to be Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Dr. Scott
Hutchins, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research,
Education, and Economics....................................... 1
----------
STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS
Boozman, Hon. John, U.S. Senator from the State of Arkansas...... 1
Klobuchar, Hon. Amy, U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota.... 2
WITNESSES
Hoskins, Dudley, of the District of Columbia, to be Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. 5
Hutchins, Scott, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture
for Research, Education, and Economics......................... 6
----------
APPENDIX
Prepared Statements:
Hoskins, Dudley.............................................. 34
Hutchins, Scott.............................................. 36
Document(s) Submitted for the Record:
Boozman, Hon. John:
Agriculture Companies in support of Dudley Hoskins, letter of
support.................................................... 40
Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities in support of
Scott Hutchins, letter of support.......................... 44
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in
support of Dudley Hoskins and Scott Hutchins, letter of
support.................................................... 45
National Cattlemen's Beef Association in support of Dudley
Hoskins, letter of support................................. 47
National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research in
support of Scott Hutchins, letter of support............... 50
National Corn Growers Association in support of Dudley
Hoskins, letter of support................................. 51
Fetterman, Hon. John:
Letters submitted by John Fetterman.......................... 52
Letters of appreciation to Brooke Rollins from Local Food
Purchase Assistance Program, and Local Food for Schools.... 69
Testimony of Scott Hutchins from 2018........................ 92
Hoskins, Dudley:
Committee questionnaire, Office of Government Ethics
Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure
Report and 5-day letter filed by Dudley Hoskins............ 100
Hutchins, Scott:
Committee questionnaire, Office of Government Ethics
Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure
Report and 5-day letter filed by Scott Hutchins............ 131
Question and Answer:
Hoskins, Dudley:
Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar........ 174
Written response to questions from Hon. Mitch McConnell...... 175
Written response to questions from Hon. Deb Fischer.......... 175
Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet....... 175
Written response to questions from Hon. Cory Booker.......... 177
Written response to questions from Hon. Raphael Warnock...... 178
Written response to questions from Hon. John Fetterman....... 181
Written response to questions from Hon. Adam Schiff.......... 182
Hutchins, Scott:
Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar........ 184
Written response to questions from Hon. Mitch McConnell...... 185
Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet....... 185
Written response to questions from Hon. Cory Booker.......... 186
Written response to questions from Hon. Raphael Warnock...... 189
Written response to questions from Hon. John Fetterman....... 192
Written response to questions from Hon. Adam Schiff.......... 195
Written response to questions from Hon. Elissa Slotkin....... 196
NOMINATIONS OF DUDLEY HOSKINS TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR
MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS AND DR. SCOTT HUTCHINS, TO BE UNDER
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS
----------
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025
U.S. Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:32 a.m., in
Room 106, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. John Boozman,
Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Boozman [presiding], Hoeven, Hyde-Smith,
Marshall, Justice, Fischer, Moran, Klobuchar, Bennet, Smith,
Lujan, Welch, Fetterman, Schiff, and Slotkin.
STATEMENT OF HON. BOOZMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
ARKANSAS, CHAIRMAN, U.S. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION,
AND FORESTRY
Chairman Boozman. Good morning and welcome. It is my
privilege to call this hearing to order.
Today, we will consider the nominations of Mr. Dudley
Hoskins to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory
Programs and Dr. Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics. We welcome both of you to
the Committee and congratulate you on your nominations and,
very importantly, thank you for your willingness to serve.
Our farmers and ranchers continue to face challenges
ranging from high input costs, elevated interest rates, an
uncertain trade environment, and an ineffective--very
ineffective--farm safety net. Farmers across the country
continue to struggle and are in desperate need of updated,
responsive risk management tools. Secretary Rollins has led by
example and has been a champion for agriculture, but the
challenges facing the farm country highlight why it is so
important she get her team in place. Today is another step
toward making that happen.
Starting with Mr. Hoskins, the Marketing and Regulatory
Programs mission area is one of the most diverse and far-
reaching responsibilities of USDA. From beef grading to organic
agriculture, from foreign animal disease response to specialty
crop pests, this mission area touches every farmer, every
rancher, every processor, every marketer, every stakeholder in
the agriculture value chain.
This mission area houses two key federal agencies, the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Agricultural
Marketing Service. They do critical, often unnoticed work and
play a vital role in keeping our Nation's food system
functioning.
U.S. agriculture is currently facing threats from numerous
pests and diseases. Right now, all eyes are on Mexico and the
threat of New World screwworm. The Secretary's decision to
close the border to live animal imports was not a light
decision. Ensuring Mexico has proper protocols in place and
eventually reopening the border will not be an easy task. This
is why I believe it is so important to get Mr. Hoskins
confirmed as soon as possible.
Now to Dr. Hutchins, the Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics. He is charged with advancing
scientific knowledge related to agriculture through research,
Extension, and education. This mission area manages four key
agencies, collects and disseminates critical data, and is the
primary link between the Federal Government and our Nation's
premier agriculture institutions, our land-grant universities.
These serve to develop the next generation of our agriculture
workforce, as well as conduct world-class research. This
mission area also works to ensure that the timely research and
outcomes and discoveries developed at our land-grant
institutions and by USDA's chief in-house research agency, the
Agricultural Research Service, actually make it to the farm.
The Cooperative Extension Service, truly a hallmark of U.S.
agriculture, is the bridge between innovation and the producer.
I am grateful that Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins are
nominated for such important roles at USDA, and I look forward
to hearing their plans to serve American agriculture.
I now turn to Ranking Member Klobuchar for her opening
statement.
STATEMENT OF HON. KLOBUCHAR, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much, Chair, and I
welcome Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins. I would like to also
welcome Mr. Hoskins' parents and his wife, Jessica, back there,
right, as well as Dr. Hutchins' wife, Janet. Thank you all for
being here.
As you mentioned, Mr. Chairman, the nominees, if confirmed,
will oversee all the functions of the USDA that are very
important to many people around this dais. You both have a
strong record of experience within the Department, and we look
forward to today's discussion.
I will start with USDA's Marketing and Regulatory Programs
vast reach. The most pressing challenge facing this mission
area is protecting us and our industry and consumers from pest,
diseases, including avian flu and New World screwworm. The
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is on the frontlines
of this fight with dedicated employees working day in and day
out to protect domestic producers from threats.
Mr. Hoskins, as you and I discussed in our good and
thorough meeting, I remain concerned over recent reporting of
the loss of public service veterinarians at the USDA. These
veterinarians are the first line of defense against animal
diseases, and I hope you will address that once you get in
there, if you are confirmed, work to buildup that workforce.
Senator Hyde-Smith and I head up the Veterinarians Caucus,
something people may not have known.
Additionally----
Chairman Boozman. No.
Senator Klobuchar. There you go. USDA's Marketing and
Regulatory Programs provide valuable support to our farmers
through the Ag Marketing Service. From commodity procurement
and specialty crop block grants to federal grain inspections
and the National Organic Program, AMS works to expand market
opportunities at home and abroad.
AMS has also taken steps to improve price transparency and
stop bad actors through several interagency efforts. In the
face of continued consolidation across the ag industry, efforts
to ensure fair rules of the road are more important than ever.
We will also consider the nomination of Dr. Hutchinson--
Hutchins to be--we have a town in Minnesota called Hutchinson,
as Senator Smith will attest to--Dr. Hutchins to be Under
Secretary of Research, Education, and Economics, who has
previous experience in the mission area as Deputy Under
Secretary.
As you and I discussed, Dr. Hutchins, I am a strong
supporter of ag research. It just makes economic sense.
According to USDA's own estimates, every $1 invested in ag
research yields $20 in economic returns. I appreciated when the
Chairman came to Minnesota and met with some of our leaders in
ag research. Of course, I think we also all went, Senator
Smith, Senator Boozman, and myself, to no other place than
North Dakota at the invitation of Senator Hoeven to look at
some of the research going on over there.
As you and I discussed, I was disappointed to see President
Trump's proposed over $600 million in cuts to the USDA's
National Institute of Food and Ag in the Fiscal Year 2026
budget. I hope to work with my colleagues on this Committee to
ensure these proposed cuts are rejected, that we continue to
keep ag research going strong. We are at a cusp of great
developments with all the research that has been done, as well
as the potential of using AI, if correctly used, to do even
better, and the precision agriculture and the like.
USDA's research agencies are critically important to
advancing scientific research, supporting our land grant
universities, and educating students to lead in the field and
in the boardroom. Our home State of Minnesota is home to the
University of Minnesota, four 1994 tribal colleges, and the ARS
labs in Morris and St. Paul.
Agencies within the MRP and REE mission areas are popular
because of the high quality of work conducted by dedicated
public servants. You can have strong leadership, but you have
to have the public servants doing the work. I have discussed
with both of you the importance of keeping these employees on,
recruiting people immediately when positions come open, and I
hope to hear from all of you about your plans in each of your
mission areas. Thank you very much, and thank you for your
willingness to serve.
Chairman Boozman. Thank you very much.
It gives me great pleasure this morning to introduce the
President's nominee to serve as the Under Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Mr. Dudley Hoskins. Before I
give him too much praise, as was mentioned, we want to welcome
his family, who have joined us here today. Dudley's wife,
Jessica Morse, Dudley's parents, Woody and Eugenia Hoskins, and
Dudley's brothers, Houston and Borden. We are delighted that
you could join us at today's hearing.
Dudley is the first member of my committee staff to be
nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. I am so
pleased that he has agreed to serve the American people in this
role, and I have full confidence that his considerable
expertise, work ethic, and sense of humor will serve him well
as the Under Secretary.
During the first Trump Administration, Dudley served as
Senior Advisor to Secretary Perdue and Chief of Staff of the
Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area. Mr. Hoskins
previously worked for the National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture, the Responsible Industry for a
Sound Environment, and the American Horse Council. He is a
native of Texas, and after completing his undergraduate degree
at Tulane University, earned his law degree from Texas Wesleyan
University.
Dudley's the right problem for--is the right person, not
the right problem, but the right person----
[Laughter.]
Chairman Boozman [continuing]. for this job. It is one of
the most important mission areas at USDA. I have confidence in
his abilities and his judgment to make sound recommendations as
the Secretary that will be in the long-term best interest of
American agriculture.
Our second nominee is Dr. Scott Hutchins. Dr. Hutchins is
nominated to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics. Dr. Hutchins served during the last Trump
Administration as Deputy Under Secretary for this same mission
area. Dr. Hutchins spent over 30 years with Dow AgroSciences
and is an adjunct professor of Entomology at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from Iowa
State, a master's in entomology from Mississippi State, and an
undergraduate degree from Auburn. You have been every place.
This is great.
Dr. Hutchins' wife, Janet, also is with us today, and
welcome. We are so glad you are here.
Thank you, Dr. Hutchins, for appearing before the
Committee, and again, we appreciate the fact that you are
willing to serve. I look forward to your testimony.
With that, let's administer the oath and then begin with
witness testimony. Each witness will have five minutes. Please
stand and raise your right hand.
Chairman Boozman. Do you swear or affirm that the
statements you are about to provide is the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Mr. Hoskins. I do.
Dr. Hutchins. I do.
Chairman Boozman. Do you agree that, if confirmed, you will
respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly
constituted Committee of the Senate?
Mr. Hoskins. I do.
Dr. Hutchins. I do.
Chairman Boozman. Thank you.
Now, Mr. Hoskins, you are recognized for your opening
statement.
STATEMENT OF DUDLEY HOSKINS, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE
UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY
PROGRAMS
Mr. Hoskins. Well, Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member
Klobuchar, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank
you for the opportunity to appear before you today as President
Trump's nominee to serve as the Under Secretary for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
I want to thank President Trump for nominating me to serve in
this role, and I want to thank Secretary Rollins for her trust
and confidence in supporting my nomination. I also want to
thank the Members of this Committee, your respective staffs,
and the non-designated clerks, Jessie Williams, Cindy Qualley,
and Elisa Mendez, for the incredible honor and privilege to
serve in support of this Committee's Members and mission over
the past four years.
Regardless of whether I am fortunate enough to be
confirmed, I will forever treasure the time, experiences, and
relationships I have been blessed with throughout my tenure
serving this Committee.
Finally, I want to thank my family for your often-tested
but never-wavering love and support. I appreciate you, Mr.
Chairman, recognizing my family and you, Ranking Member
Klobuchar. I also want to do the same. My parents, Woody and
Jenny, who are here in person, my sister Aubrey, who is in
Louisiana with her family today, my brothers Houston and
Borden, and sister-in-law Catherine, who are in attendance, and
my wife Jessica, whose only real poor decision in life was
agreeing to marry me.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Hoskins. That aside, I did not grow up in agriculture.
Through happenstance, dumb luck, and great fortune, I fell into
it and ultimately fell in love with it. After graduating law
school, I came to D.C. with my dog, Huckleberry, a law license,
and no malpractice insurance. Like most experiences in my life,
I have been a recipient of goodwill I did not earn and good
luck I did not deserve. The combination of those two dynamics
allowed me to work for the American Horse Council, the
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, the National
Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and before
joining the Committee, the opportunity and privilege to serve
at USDA under the first Trump Administration, under then-
Secretary Perdue in multiple capacities, one of which was in
the MRP mission area for then-Under Secretary Greg Ibach.
Those experiences exposed me to the countless challenges
and inner workings of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service, which in my
very biased estimation are the two most critical, complex, and
impactful agencies informing the health and viability of U.S.
agriculture.
The people serving in the APHIS and AMS agencies are on
their clock and at their post 24/7 as stewards and sentries,
protecting our producers from incursions of devastating animal
and plant pests and diseases, traveling across our rural
communities to ensure price transparency through market news
reporting, conducting bird control at airports, ensuring the
highest confidence in our grading standards, reviewing and
regulating certain agricultural biotechnologies, mitigating the
impacts of feral hogs and other invasive species, and ensuring
the integrity of research and promotion boards and countless
marketing orders, just to name a few.
In short, the career officials and subject matter experts
tasked with this incredibly diverse mission set are the best in
the world at what they do. If confirmed, I commit to following
Secretary Rollins' leadership and working every day to support
the APHIS and AMS missions in helping U.S. farmers, ranchers,
and foresters produce the safest, most affordable, and most
abundant food and fiber in the world.
To the Members of the Committee, I am grateful for the time
and opportunity to have met with many of you and your
respective staffs before today's hearing. Those conversations
were incredibly instructive in helping me better understand
some of the challenges and opportunities impacting producers in
your states and across the country.
If confirmed, I will dedicate myself to delivering a
transparent, predictable, and science-based regulatory
structure to protect the health and viability of U.S.
agriculture, mitigate the impact of animal and plant pests and
diseases, and facilitate the timely delivery of critical
marketing programs consistent with the spirit and intent of the
law.
Finally, I also want to note my gratitude and appreciation
to my co-nominee, Dr. Hutchins. Regardless of what becomes of
my nomination, if he is confirmed, USDA will be fortunate to
have someone of his experience and capabilities leading the REE
mission area.
I thank the Committee for the opportunity to appear before
you today, and I look forward to answering any questions you
may have for me.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Hoskins can be found on page
34 in the appendix.]
Chairman Boozman. Dr. Hutchins.
STATEMENT OF SCOTT HUTCHINS, OF INDIANA, TO BE UNDER SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS
Dr. Hutchins. Good morning. Chairman Boozman, Ranking
Member Klobuchar, and Members of the Committee, I am truly
pleased to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee
to the position of Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics for the United States Department of Agriculture. I
would like to sincerely thank President Trump for this
opportunity and Secretary Rollins for her confidence and
support with this nomination as well.
I am myself a product, as you have read, of the land-grant
system, and therefore, I feel a great sense of pride and honor
to be considered for this position, and if confirmed, will
certainly dedicate myself to fulfill the mission as outlined by
Congress and to achieve the goals of USDA as outlined by
Secretary Rollins.
As you have already recognized, thank you for that. I would
like to introduce my wife, Janet Hutchins from Alabama. We
celebrate 45 years of marriage next month, and we have three
wonderful adult children and seven awesome grandchildren, all
ages 12 and under. No one could ask for a better lifelong
partner and supportive family, and I also want to thank my
sisters Dawn and Candy in Georgia, along with the extended
family and friends watching virtually for their love and
support through this process.
Throughout my career, I have dedicated my professional
passion toward developing innovations and novel technologies in
support of agriculture production, working every day to provide
tools that allow farmers to succeed in their businesses. For
example, I was the Global Product Development Manager for
Spinosad, which is a U.S. EPA Green Chemistry Award winner, and
a naturally-derived insect management product that is today one
of the most widely used insect management tools in agriculture
and horticulture, both conventional and organic agriculture
within the United States and indeed globally.
The history of agricultural productivity in the United
States has been unlike any industry. Production has increased
over 400 percent in the last century while using the same level
of inputs, albeit different inputs, and with all that, less
land. That is clearly the definition of sustainability.
Often overlooked is the fact that the average life span of
Americans has gone from 49 years of age to over 80 years of age
in that same period. Modern U.S. agriculture, powered by U.S.
farmers and ranchers, is the enabling reason we have a safe,
abundant, and reliable food system.
My professional journey as a scientist began at Auburn
University as an undergraduate student in the late 1970's,
where I benefited from excellent teachers and mentors in
Agricultural Entomology and became passionate about helping
growers manage devastating pest problems. I elected to pursue
graduate studies at Mississippi State University and Iowa State
University, where I became a student of Integrative Pest
Management. I have been fortunate to have worked closely with
numerous university teams and administrators throughout my
career, along with scientific societies, to create and advance
public-private partnerships.
After a nearly 32-year career in the private sector, I was
honored to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics under the leadership of Secretary
Perdue, where I experienced firsthand the talent and commitment
of our federal agencies in research, education, and economics.
If confirmed, I look forward to continuing to support their
critical mission with Secretary Rollins. The land grant mission
is timeless, and not only research, but also research made
relevant through education and extension.
I was honored to have met in person the Nobel laureate, Dr.
Norman Borlaug, who inspired all of us to pursue, with earnest,
innovation in agriculture as the very best way to ensure food
security for all. Inasmuch as Congress has designated this role
to also serve as the Chief Agricultural Scientist for the
United States, if confirmed, I will fulfill these
responsibilities to the best of my ability through deliberate,
yet decisive formulation of recommendations to the Secretary,
the President, and the Congress on key scientific issues and
opportunities facing U.S. agriculture. Moreover, if confirmed,
I commit to actively lead the REE team to create strategic
initiatives and national priorities in line with the goals and
objectives of the Secretary and Congress with a renewed focus
on impactful results and discovery goals.
I have always truly valued teamwork, and I know Mr. Hoskins
well from our previous time at USDA. He is the absolute best,
as you already know, and if we are confirmed together, it will
be an honor to work side by side with him and the Secretary's
full team to collectively support U.S. agriculture.
Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, Members of the
Committee, I am truly honored to have been nominated for this
critical USDA role, and if confirmed, I pledge to do all I can
each and every day to improve the lives and livelihoods of
farmers, ranchers, and all Americans through the work of the
research, education, and economics agencies.
Thank you so much for the privilege of appearing in front
of the Committee today, and I look forward to answering any
questions you may have.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Hutchins can be found on
page 36 in the appendix.]
Chairman Boozman. Well, thank you both for your testimony.
We will now begin with one round of questions. Each Member will
have five minutes.
Before I ask my questions, I would like to add letters of
support from various groups for Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins
for their nomination into the record. Without objection, so
ordered.
[The letters can be found on pages 40-51 in the appendix.]
Chairman Boozman. Mr. Hoskins, the USDA has been challenged
by avian flu for quite some time now, and recent developments
of New World screwworm moving closer to our southern border are
more than troubling. You have had some experience in handling
foreign animal disease threats in your prior roles at USDA with
the State Departments of Agriculture. If confirmed, how will
you address the current threats facing U.S. agriculture, and
how will you ensure USDA stays ready to meet new challenges?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, and
thank you for the time you extended to me in your office before
today's hearing. I know you raised this issue and a multiple of
other priorities for you and producers in Arkansas.
When it comes to high-path AI or screwworm or whatever's on
deck next, African swine fever, FMD, the disease of the day, in
my estimation, all of those things require an all-hands-on-
deck. There is a federal component and equity that obviously
APHIS and veterinary services plays a huge instrumental role in
driving. There is also the relationships and partners with
states, state animal health officials, and impacted producers
and industry stakeholders.
If I were confirmed, I would do everything in my power to
support Secretary Rollins implement her five-pronged approach
that she rolled out to address high-path AI, better understand
and assess the risks of screwworm from Mexico, and work to
understand what, if anything, veterinary services and the APHIS
team needed or wanted in support or permission to better
execute their mandate to protect U.S. agriculture.
Chairman Boozman. Very good. Dr. Hutchins, thank you for
meeting with me a couple weeks ago, which I really enjoyed. I
appreciate the discussion we had about the importance of the
National Agricultural Law Center, and if you are confirmed, I
look forward to working with you to see the Center remains
successful and able to continue serving American agriculture.
The partnership between USDA and our Nation's agriculture
universities is so important. This distinguishes U.S.
agriculture research from the rest of the world. It is a
partnership between the Federal Government, the states, and
local decision makers.
We do not have a system where Washington, DC. tells
universities what to research, and states must have skin in the
game. In the end, farmers, ranchers, and consumers ultimately
benefit. You mentioned in your testimony the tremendous strides
that agriculture had made compared to almost anything. If you
are confirmed, what will you do to continue to lead this
partnership with our Nation's agriculture universities, which
you are, as you mentioned, so much a product of?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator. I, too, very much enjoyed
our conversation the other week. As I have indicated, and as
hopefully it is clear from my demeanor, I am a huge passionate
fan of land-grant institutions. The whole model has been a
gamechanger, and it really has enabled the United States to
make the difference.
What would I be able to do? What I hope to be able to do,
sir, is to develop a set of national priorities and focus on
discovery goals so that we can channel the tremendous talent of
these institutions in partnership, as well, with the federal
agencies toward solving some of the bigger issues and
challenges, some of which would be in partnership, of course,
with Mr. Hoskins' organization, if he is confirmed, in order to
address challenges. I am also very positive on the possibility
of developing new opportunities, new opportunities for markets
for our agricultural products, new opportunities for technology
advancements, and to put those in place first so that the
United States agricultural system is always leading the world
as early adopters of innovation and staying ahead of the curve
for productivity and profitability and relevance.
Chairman Boozman. Very good. Mr. Hoskins, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, is the gold standard
for certifying both plant and animal health safety. We have
seen many countries put up unscientific trade barriers. APHIS
then is called in to help defend the integrity of our ag
products.
One focus of this Administration's trade agenda is to crack
down on these types of unfair barriers, which are in many ways
even worse than the tariff barriers. How do you view the role
of APHIS in the broader effect to ensure our producers can
compete on a level playing field?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman. In
my estimation, the APHIS family, both on the PPQ side and the
veterinary services side, when we are talking about sanitary
and phytosanitary non-tariff trade irritants, the APHIS family
plays an essential role in prosecuting the science of those
barriers and hopefully persevering with their colleagues and
counterparts around the world to help them understand where
there is risk and where there is not. If I were confirmed, I
would do everything in my power to give the APHIS subject
matter experts the permission and support they needed to fully
prosecute those non-tariff trade issues on a scientific basis
and support their outcomes.
Chairman Boozman. Very good. Senator Klobuchar.
Senator Klobuchar. Very good. Thank you. I will start with
you, Mr. Hoskins. As you and I talked over the last three years
in the U.S. avian flu, spread from wild birds to poultry
operations and most recently to dairy cattle, Mr. Hoskins, as
we enter the third year of this most recent outbreak, what are
your priorities on this virus, and how will you ensure the
response includes all impacted industry groups, including
turkeys and dairy cattle?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Ranking Member
Klobuchar, and thank you for the time you extended to me in
your office. I know you raised this issue and a number of
others. The visit with you in your office was much more
pleasant than my staff interview with your Committee staff----
[Laughter.]
Mr. Hoskins [continuing]. but I would just say when it
comes to high-path AI specifically and just the diversity of
production systems that disease has impacted, obviously eggs,
broilers, turkeys, which we are number one in, and the dairy
side of the equation, the all-hands approach, five-pronged
approach that Secretary Rollins rolled out, to me is absolutely
the right direction and compass to help get us out of this
quagmire with high-path AI. One component of that could be
vaccine development and deployment.
What I have committed to you and, if confirmed, what I
would commit to this Committee is that if there were a vaccine
consideration to be utilized, that that would be science-based.
It would be based on the efficacy of that vaccine, and it is
something that the entire stakeholder community would be
consulted on because regardless of one production system that
you may vaccinate for, it could have implications for other
production systems, both on a domestic level and an
international market access level. I would commit to giving the
Secretary all the information and tools she needed to make the
most informed decision possible.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much.
Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, what role do you see for
Research, Education, and Economics in your mission area playing
to go into the response to avian flu?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator, and thank you as well for
the time yesterday. I enjoyed that very much, and I actually
also enjoyed the time with your staff.
Senator Klobuchar. Well, thank you.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. That will be duly noted, Mr. Hoskins.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. Okay.
Dr. Hutchins. The Research, Education, and Economics
organization just has the phenomenal capability and capacity to
deal with these types of scenarios with the NBAF facility in
Kansas, as well as the veterinary laboratories in Ames and
other places. The science and the capabilities there are
unmatched in the world. The other thing that is unmatched is
the partnership that these agencies have with the agencies of
MRP.
What can we do to advance it? We can continually look for
the most promising science development. We can utilize the new
tools and technologies in AI to identify ways to not just
mitigate but to prevent these kinds of scenarios. In some ways,
it is also related to the context of invasive species, invasive
organisms. We have the capability to work hand in hand to
develop the best methods to eliminate those.
Senator Klobuchar. Thanks. Very good. Thank you.
Ag research in general, you know, I voiced my concerns
about this proposed budget. Can you talk about how you will
advocate for ag research?
Dr. Hutchins. Certainly. I have always been an advocate for
ag research, but at a higher level I have been an advocate for
the outcomes that ag research leads to, the results, the
solutions, the opportunities. It is certainly the prerogative
of Congress to provide the funding, but what I can commit to
you, Senator, is that whatever funding is provided, we will
make the absolute best use of it to benefit our farmers and
ranchers and consumers. That would be my firm commitment to you
and this Committee.
Senator Klobuchar. Administration's buyout program for
career employees resulted in the loss of 1,600 people from your
mission area with research, including over 1,200 staff from the
Ag Research Service. That is an 18 percent loss of total
workforce when we are already looking for ag scientists. Simply
put, without staff, I think we know this research, no matter
what AI does, is not going to happen.
How are you going to make sure that this loss of expertise
will not affect the area, and how will you improve things?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you for that question. For sure what we
will need to do is take a look at the resources that are
provided, the status of the situation we have in each of the
agencies, and, as with any organization, look to ensure that we
are focused on the most important outcomes and on the most
important projects and programs that benefit farmers, ranchers,
and the American public, and then target the resources we do
have toward that and ensure that we fill those key positions
that are vacant that will allow us to succeed in that way.
Senator Klobuchar. Okay. Thanks. Last question, Mr.
Hoskins. The National Animal Health Lab Network office has lost
half its staff, and that is about testing, quality assurance,
and the Vet Services office is currently set to lose 23 percent
of its workforce. Just talk about how you will ensure that
APHIS continues to protect our domestic ag from threats and is
not undermined by the staff or funding cuts.
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you. Thank you for the question, Ranking
Member Klobuchar. To your point, the National Animal Health
Laboratory Network is a critical asset to the Federal
Government when it comes to early detection and surveillance of
animal diseases. I think there are 62 facilities in around 42
states within the NALHN network.
I cannot sit here today and speak intelligently to the
staffing assessment, having not been at the Department and
privy to those briefings. What I can point to is the
Secretary's comments publicly that she stated APHIS will have
the adequate workforce needed to address their mission and
their mandate, which priority one is protecting the health and
viability of U.S. agriculture.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Hyde-Smith.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you,
Ranking Member. Congratulations to both of you, and I welcome
your families. I also welcome some Mississippi legislators. We
have four legislators here from our ag committees. We have
Senator Neil Whaley, we have Senator Andy Berry, Representative
Vince Mangold, and Representative Bill Pigott. Welcome, and
thank you for attending this hearing.
As has been discussed many times, Mr. Hoskins, our
livestock and poultry industries rely heavily on how USDA acts
to protect our Nations from foreign animal diseases. We are
currently experiencing a year-long outbreak of high-path avian
influenza that has cost poultry and livestock producers tens of
millions of dollars in lost flocks, biosecurity expenses, and
disruption to domestic and international markets. You and I
also recently discussed the outbreak of the New World screwworm
in Mexico that has a potential to be very destructive in the
U.S. livestock industry if we do not act now.
Diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth
disease are always too close for comfort, and we are quickly
learning how important it is to be prepared for these
outbreaks. I have long supported efforts to strengthen programs
to help our producers prepare and respond to animal disease
outbreaks. I applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump
Administration for how they have handled these challenges
already in the Administration.
How do you plan to build on this work to ensure USDA is
using its disease response resources to act quickly and
effectively to protect American agriculture from these threats?
If confirmed, how can we support your work in tackling these
challenges as a body?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator, and for
the time you allotted me in your office before today's hearing.
I know you raised this issue and a multitude of others. I guess
when I think about the infrastructure that exists at APHIS to
address animal diseases, I think first and foremost to the 2018
Farm Bill, where this Committee and Members on this Committee
helped lead the effort to get the three-legged stool codified
into law, which included the NAHLN lab network; the NADPRP,
Disease Prevention Response Program; and the Vaccine and
Veterinary Countermeasures Bank. To me, that is a critical
toolbox to APHIS and working with state partners in addressing
animal disease issues.
If I were confirmed, I would look to double down and help
implement and expedite Secretary Rollins' five-point plan on
high-path AI. I want to get clear-eyed in the assessment about
what is working well and what is not, and if there are
challenges with the biosecurity pieces, how can we best plug
and play the agency's resources to help producers meet that
mandate.
With screwworm, that is a devastating, just scary disease,
parasite, and what it does to the host is it is almost 100
percent fatal without detection and intervention. In Texas, I
think the Department eradicated screwworm in the 1960's.
Secretary Rollins clearly took decisive action to prevent a
potential incursion of screwworm. I would do everything I could
to support that work, both with APHIS and the states and the
stakeholder industry, to ensure we had the all-hands-on-deck
approach we need.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you very much. Dr. Hutchins,
Mississippi is a leader in agriculture research and very proud
of the work that we have done across the state, especially in
one of your alma maters, Mississippi State University. As you
know, these research initiatives support American farmers and
ranchers in so many ways, including developing and improving
crop genetics, advancing animal health capabilities, and
creating new tools to fight diseases and pests that adversely
affect production agriculture.
In my lifetime, I have seen yields increase up to 400
percent at times because of these advancements, which must
continue if we are going to provide a safe, abundant,
affordable food supply. How will you work to strengthen
partnerships with our land-grant universities and pave the way
for new scientific advancements in American agriculture through
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the
Agricultural Research Service?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. Thank
you for the time. Hail state.
Pleased to be here and address that. As I have indicated
previously, the land-grant institutions are on the frontlines
of many of these issues. They have the talent. They have the
ability to educate and use extension. At Mississippi State, for
example, not so much the screwworm, but they had a very similar
scenario with the boll weevil. The ARS Boll Weevil Lab,
combined with Mississippi State University, actually developed
a lot of the techniques and so forth to eradicate that and, if
you will, push it back down into South America.
We will definitely put the land-grant institutions at the
tip of the spear to address these issues and do everything we
can to support.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you very much.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Smith.
Senator Smith. Thank you very much, Chair Boozman and
Ranking Member, and welcome, both of you, to the Committee.
Dr. Hutchins, thanks so much for our meeting yesterday. I
appreciated the conversation, and I want to just follow-up on
that discussion.
I believe that both you and I agree that in the face of the
very challenging farm economy and in a world where many
producers are not breaking even, that a focus on research and
innovation is really crucial. As you know, because I know you
visited them, we have two Agriculture Research Service labs in
Minnesota. They are very important to Minnesota producers. They
rely on them. They both are doing very different kinds of work,
as you know, very different kinds of research.
My question to you is, what commitments can you make to me
and the Committee that those two facilities will remain open
and will not suffer further staff reductions, as we are seeing
in different parts of the USDA?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator Smith, for that question,
and thank you for the time as well.
What is clear with what is happening is that we will need
to step back and look at each of these facilities. I believe
ARS currently has over 90 facilities. Each of them were
developed with a very, you know, effective mission focus. Some
of those missions have been continued to add a lot of value.
Others perhaps have migrated to other areas of focus such as
the Boll Weevil Lab I just mentioned.
What I can commit to you, Senator, is that I will
personally do an objective assessment of all these facilities,
understand the value of proposition that they are providing to
not just the Minnesota farmers, but to farmers more broadly,
and to put together proposals and advocate for how we maintain
the capability to provide the solutions, provide the
innovations, and provide leading-edge approaches to all aspects
of agriculture production.
Senator Smith. I appreciate that. I do not hear quite what
I am looking for, but I would just urge you as you go forward,
realizing the scope of control you have here, that as you are
making those decisions and doing that assessment, that you are
talking directly with farmers and ranchers and producers who
rely on what those research facilities are providing so that
you have a good view of what is to be lost and what is to be
gained if they stay there as a resource for producers.
Dr. Hutchins. Yes, ma'am, they are there for those
stakeholders, and I really want to hear, understand, and
appreciate the challenges that they are facing and how we can
assist.
Senator Smith. Thank you very much. I want to ask a follow-
up on another thing that we talked about yesterday. Farmers and
producers are dealing with an increasing number of extreme
weather events, heat, flooding, you name it. We had a
discussion about the importance of making sure that we are
doing everything we can to help producers adapt. I know this is
something that you have spent a lot of time on in your career.
For example, we talked about the impact of, you know, different
bugs and invasive species that can shift and move as the
climate changes. Could you just talk a bit about that and how
you would orient USDA research to ensure that producers have
the opportunity to do the long-term adaptation that is going to
be required?
Dr. Hutchins. Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question.
Absolutely. I feel strongly that the science and the technology
that we have in hand and that continues to develop--I am
talking about gene technologies. I am talking about abilities
to make the plant resistant to drought and heat. I am talking
about insects. There are all kinds of technologies that are
evolving and developing in the digital world, as well as in the
genetic world. The University of Minnesota is a leading,
breeding, teaching, and learning institution that I have every
confidence we will be able to address these if we are allowed
and permitted to develop the kind of tools and put them to
practice the way I think we all hope that we can. There are not
any, I think, challenges in front of us that we cannot address
in an effective way if we are able to utilize the science and
technology that we can already see in front of us.
Senator Smith. Great. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chairman Boozman. Let me give a shout out to Mike
McCormick, President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau. We do
appreciate working with you and all that you represent in
Mississippi, the great job that you all do.
Roger, you ready?
Senator Marshall. I am ready.
Chairman Boozman. I am sorry, Senator Marshall.
Senator Marshall. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman,
Ranking Member. Welcome to both of our nominees and
congratulations. We look forward to supporting your
nominations.
I think my first question is for Mr. Hoskins. Your role is
Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Talk a little bit about
pesticides and fertilizers and your interaction with EPA and
HHS now as well.
Again, I will just start by sharing I am so proud of what
we have done in agriculture. We are growing more with less. We
are using a fraction of those pesticides and fertilizers than
we used to. This Committee is doing everything we can to have
decreased amounts of those ever reaching the waters as well.
What will your role be in interacting with the other
departments?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and for
the time you extended to me in your office last week. I know
you raised this issue and a number of other priorities on
behalf of Kansas agriculture producers.
I would just say when I think about that question, I am
thinking about it through the lens of the APHIS AMS mandate
that Congress has given it. I think regardless of whether it is
a fertilizer, an input, a crop protection tool, a biotechnology
innovation, all of those things are so critical to the
producers to produce the most abundant, most affordable, safest
food supply in the world. As a Federal Government, my hope
would be we would facilitate that innovation and technology and
not frustrate it.
If I were confirmed, I would commit to you to stand behind
the science and ensure the agency actions, whether it is
registrations or reviews or approval, are consistent with, both
on a technical level, the most sound science we have in front
of us and consistent with the mandate that Congress has given
the agencies to operate under.
Senator Marshall. Great, thank you.
Dr. Hutchins, I will go to you next. We want to talk about
NBAF, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Have you had
the chance to go there yet?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator. I did when it was under
construction.
Senator Marshall. Right. Okay. Well, good. You are very
familiar with what it is and what it means to American
agriculture as well. It is still not open. I think it is a year
or two. It is not because of the construction part of it. The
construction was done, as I understand, pretty much on time, on
budget. Do you have any idea--I know you are not confirmed yet,
but do you have any idea why it has not been opened yet, and
what is your level of commitment to make that happen?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I do not. I have literally not had
any access to that obviously or any information since, you
know, 2021. My commitment to you is that if I am confirmed, I
will definitely look into that, understand the details, and
problem solve from that point.
Senator Marshall. Well, it is my understanding that they
are dragging the feet because the Plum Island facility is
dragging its feet to get shut down. The American taxpayers have
invested significant money in the NBAF. It is the safest place
in the world to do this type of research, and that is where it
needs to be done. Would you agree?
Dr. Hutchins. That is the premise behind the whole facility
when we send the memorandum of agreement, and so that is still
my working premise, that it is absolutely the best and a world-
class facility, and that is where that work should be
conducted.
Senator Marshall. Okay. I think in your previous tenure at
USDA, you were involved in the relocation of ERS and NIFA to
Kansas City, the greater Kansas City metro area. You know, any
idea, has that been a success? Is it working well? I mean, to
us, I think it is really important to get people closest to the
producers as possible. This is one of, I hope, many, many
future opportunities for people to get out of the swamp here
and get them out in the hinterlands, us flyover states, to see
what is really happening in agriculture.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I was involved with that at
Secretary Perdue's direction. We did develop that. Prior to my
departure, we did actually open the facility there in Kansas
City. You might also recall that that was kind of right in the
middle of the COVID scenarios as well. I do not know at present
what the current status is of the building, the context, and
the rest of it, but I was personally onsite the day that it
opened, and I met individually with every single NIFA and ERS
individual that was there. Every single one of them that was
there was delighted to be in the Kansas City region. The
recruitment at the time was very, very successful.
I will commit to you to understand what the current status
is and to make sure that the original promises are fulfilled
that Secretary Perdue had outlined.
Senator Marshall. Well, great. After you are confirmed, if
possible, your staff might just follow-up with me and let us
know how that is going and whatever we can do to support future
endeavors like that as well.
Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Lujan.
Senator Lujan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you
all being here today as well.
Mr. Hoskins, I would like to start with a question directed
to you. As you may know, New Mexico has two ports of entry that
serve as major entry points for livestock imports, the Columbus
Port of Entry and the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Both ports of
entry were closed to livestock imports in November 2024 and
again earlier this month to prevent the spread of the New World
screwworm. While the Santa Teresa Port of Entry reopened for
livestock imports in February 2025 before being closed again
earlier this month, the Columbus Port of Entry remained closed
to livestock during this time.
My understanding, based on communication with USDA, is that
due to the Trump Administration's reduction in force efforts,
there were not enough animal health technicians in Columbus,
New Mexico, for that port of entry to reopen in February. My
question, Mr. Hoskins, is yes or no. If confirmed, will you
commit to ensuring that there are adequate inspectors stationed
at the Columbus Port of Entry, specifically in animal health,
to reopen that port to livestock crossings when it is safe to
do so?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and the
opportunity to visit with your staff before today's hearing. I
know you are looking for a yes or no answer. I guess I would
say it, and not to be evasive, not being at the Department and
not being briefed on staffing decisions and assessments and
needs, what I could commit to is just that, if confirmed, I
would ensure APHIS met its congressional mandate to protect
U.S. agriculture from animal, plants, and diseases, and I would
support and implement Secretary Rollins' direction, where she
has stated publicly APHIS will have the adequate staffing and
resources needed to meet its mandate.
Senator Lujan. Do you believe that animal health
technicians are important in the mission of USDA?
Mr. Hoskins. Yes, Senator, I do.
Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. I hope that that is
expressed to the Secretary and to the Administration. I very
much appreciate the attention from the Secretary in this space,
but there are not enough inspectors. The more people that are
going to get fired, the less that are going to be available.
That is going to hurt efforts all around the South. It should
not just be Texas that gets attention. If you go down and you
look at where those animals are crossing, you know, more people
cross into Texas through those ports of entry. More commerce is
moving through some of those smaller ports, namely agriculture
in New Mexico. If we are going to look at this from a United
States perspective, I certainly hope it gets that kind of
attention.
I am also very concerned that the loss of staff at USDA
resulting from the Trump Administration efforts have undermined
the agency's ability to serve people back home. I also get
calls from people in other parts of the country that I have met
along the way that are very concerned with some of these
initial reports. Many USDA staff who have dedicated their
careers to serving farm country and rural America at USDA have
very specific knowledge base and specialties that make a
difference in people's lives.
Several media outlets reported that just days after the
Administration's deferred resignation offer went into effect,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service sent an email to remaining employees
offering ``lateral transfer opportunities to fill 73 open
positions that are especially critical to fill as soon as
possible.'' Now, Mr. Hoskins, you spent a significant portion
of your career working at USDA, first as the Chief of Staff in
Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission, and later a Senior
Advisor to Secretary Perdue. Do you agree that career staff
play a critical role in maintaining operations at the agency?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator. Yes, in
my experience working with APHIS and AMS, the career staff and
the subject matter experts are absolutely indispensable.
Senator Lujan. I appreciate you saying that, and that is
the case. I do not know where a lot of folks back home would be
without that kind of support, and I certainly hope that as this
review is going on, that adequate levels of support will exist
for farmers and ranchers across the country. You are one of the
best that knows this, and you have done it, you have seen it,
and so I certainly hope that your voice will be listened to
when you are in this important position.
Now, in recent years, New Mexico has experienced an
unprecedented number of extreme weather events, including
wildfires, droughts, severe storms, and flooding. In western
states like New Mexico, it is just getting more and more
common. It is critical for our food supply and for the
livelihood of our farmers and producers that the Federal
Government invest in adapting production techniques to respond
to extreme weather.
Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, how would you ensure that USDA
responds to changing weather patterns that are resulting in
more extreme weather?
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator, for the question. The
USDA, particularly for crops that you are familiar with in your
state, have got tremendous breeding capabilities to be able to
build in some of these areas of tolerance, whether it is heat
or drought or what have you. When I was working with USDA
previously, I sat down with the breeding leaders and asked them
to incorporate within their goals the things that are most
important for the particular crops and regions. I would look to
continue that focus to ensure that our crops and our animals
are able to be resilient with the various year-to-year weather
patterns.
Senator Lujan. Appreciate it. Just to be clear, this is an
area that you will prioritize and you will continue to do the
good work that you have done in the past?
Dr. Hutchins. Yes, sir.
Senator Lujan. Appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Boozman. Thank you. Senator Hoeven.
Senator Hoeven. I would like to thank both of you for being
here, appreciate it very much. Starting with you, Mr. Hoskins,
if confirmed, will you fully enforce the Packers and Stockyards
Act?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you, Senator, and for the time you and
your staff afforded me in your office before today's hearing.
Yes, if confirmed, I would work with the AMS Fair Trade
Practices Program and the career officials implementing the
Packers and Stockyards Act to ensure it was implemented
consistent with the law.
Senator Hoeven. The industry has always wanted more price
discovery, more transparency, and more competition. What are
your thoughts on accomplishing that?
Mr. Hoskins. Senator, I would note a couple of different
things. One, your leadership and other Members on this
Committee in facilitating the Cattle Contracts Library and
other resources that AMS has adopted over the recent years to
bring more transparency into some of the backroom, back
operations side of that work-stream from producers to feeders
and packers.
I would also just note Congress in the 1921 Packers and
Stockyards Act stated very clearly the agency shall ensure fair
competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in
livestock, beef, and poultry.
Since that time, there has been a lot of different
rulemakings in different administrations, a lot of litigation
across different circuit courts. What my personal
interpretation of some of those terms of art, I think, is
largely immaterial. If confirmed, it would be my role to
implement the program consistent with the congressional intent
and the way courts have informed and decided what those terms
of art mean.
I would also just note a close family friend and mentor who
passed away about a year ago, a cattleman in South Texas who
was a devout Catholic, he said, ``God may have created the
Earth in less than a week, but he still hadn't figured out
cattle markets.''
Senator Hoeven. Well, your background and expertise in this
area shows, and you are right.
What do you see in terms of expanding our ability overseas
in terms of marketing our livestock?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. I think
APHIS on the veterinary side when you are talking about
sanitary non-tariff trade irritants plays an absolutely
essential role in prosecuting market access at a technical
level. Regardless of me or whoever else would be in that role,
I think as long as the subject matter experts are the ones
driving those technical conversations and effectively being
umpires calling balls and strikes and their political
leadership stands behind the science, then I think we are all
set up for success. If we step back from that mandate, I think
we are all facing a lot of challenges.
Senator Hoeven. Right on. We have to be firm and aggressive
there. We cannot allow fake phytosanitary barriers to prevent
us from accessing markets.
By the same token, we need to protect our market. Everybody
wants to be in our market. If there are, you know, various
issues with some of those phytosanitary issues from South
America or anywhere else where they are trying to put livestock
in our market, we need to stand firm on both ways, right? You
would agree with that?
Mr. Hoskins. Yes, Senator, I would.
Senator Hoeven. Yes. Okay. Mr. Hutchins, I would like to
get you to North Dakota to see Grand Farm and also our policy
center at North Dakota State University. Are you willing to
come do that?
Dr. Hutchins. Yes, Senator, very much so. I know the
Secretary has already been there, and the comments I read that
she wrote was she was very impressed.
Senator Hoeven. Well, it sounds like you are going to be an
excellent Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics based on that answer. Thank you very much.
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you. Thank you, Senator.
Chairman Hoeven. At this point, we will turn to Senator
Fetterman.
Senator Fetterman. Thank you. Good morning, gentlemen.
Now I know this is not your purview, and I am not going to
just go on a rant, but this is the last opportunity that I
would have to say as a Member of this Committee that I have
been very troubled that now it is very clear that they are
going to try to cut SNAP. You know, for me, it has always been
a passion of mine and one of the reasons why I was so excited
to be on this Committee. Now that vote is coming, so this is my
last opportunity to say that in a minority situation, we may
not have the vote to prevent those kinds of things, but that
does not mean I could ever support these kinds of cuts.
Mr. Hoskins, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative
Agreement Program, LFPA, was successfully doing all of those
things to create and promote small local food system viability.
According to 1,433 farmers in the organizations, including 31
in PA, LFPA generated $747 million in economic activity in
rural communities. I ask the Chair with unanimous consent that
their letter be entered into the record.
Senator Boozman. Without objection.
[The documents can be found on pages 52-99 in the
appendix.]
Senator Fetterman. Okay, thank you.
Sir, do you agree that the USDA has the authority to
promote market access for small farms?
Mr. Hoskins. Well, thank you for the question, Senator, and
I appreciated the time and conversation with your staff in your
office the other week. Your staff raised this very issue and a
number of other priorities you are focused on behalf of
Pennsylvania agriculture.
Yes, I do think AMS, through congressional codification and
different laws this Committee and the Congress has passed,
including the 2018 Farm Bill, has a number of programs and
authorities to facilitate local food purchasing and promotion.
Senator Fetterman. Yes, I would also like to be clear. I
voted for Secretary Rollins. I mean, for me, agriculture, I
mean, red, blue, conservative, liberal, everybody eats, and we
all count on our agriculture. For me, it is not about politics.
It is about feeding people and supporting farming, and that is
our largest industry in my state. Do you agree that it is
beneficial for states like mine to be able to directly address
their local food systems?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator. My
awareness on some of the authorities and programs under the
Agricultural Marketing Service is that this Committee and
Congress have given that agency purview and mandate to
facilitate some of those programs and purchases and facilitate
the resiliency of the local food system. If I am
understanding--and I am not trying to be evasive but to be
responsive, if I were confirmed, I would commit----
Senator Fetterman. I am not suggesting you are, sir. I am
not suggesting you are.
Mr. Hoskins. Yes, I would commit to ensuring AMS met its
congressional mandate under those programs.
Senator Fetterman. Okay. All right. Yield.
Senator Klobuchar. [Presiding] Thank you. Thank you very
much, Senator Fetterman.
Next up, Senator Moran.
Senator Moran. Senator Klobuchar, Senator Hoeven, thank you
very much for leading this Committee in the absence of Senator
Boozman.
Thank you both for being here. I am going to plow similar
ground to my colleague from Kansas, the plowing earlier in the
hearing. I want to highlight again this issue of NBAF. I have
had conversations with Secretary Rollins a couple of times
about this topic. NBAF is a $1.25 billion American investment
in the safety of our food supply, and it is still not fully
operational. The handoff from the Department of Homeland
Security, as you know, occurred now a significant period of
time ago. The former Secretary of Agriculture was there to help
cut the ribbon, and yet we are still not fully operational. I
am really anxious to get your attention, if you are confirmed,
to make certain that the Department of Agriculture, that USDA
takes the necessary steps to get this fully commissioned and
operational. I would join Senator Hoeven, and I can join him in
telling you, you are a great nominee if you will commit to
coming with me, Senator Marshall, and others, to see NBAF and
to take a leadership role at the Department of Agriculture in
this regard, Dr. Hutchins.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.
Certainly, you have that commitment. When I was in USDA
previously, it was in a formative stage of that. Construction
was moving forward. The agreements were in place. I really need
to learn and understand where we are right now, but certainly,
that will be my commitment to you.
Senator Moran. At least from this interested observer, it
does not seem like we are moving fast enough to solve whatever
challenges there are. In the meantime, research that was
mentioned in your testimony is not taking place in regard to
FMD until that happens. There are lots of critical challenges
we face that need NBAF fully operational.
Senator Marshall also asked you about the relocation of
NIFA and ERS. My understanding is that Secretary Vilsack
confirmed the decision that was made by the Trump
Administration, the last Trump Administration, the previous
Trump Administration, and allowed those jobs to be transferred
and the mission to be transferred to Kansas City. What did not
take place was actually having employees come to work. In some
ways, the transfer was a paper transfer in which people
continued to live and work in Washington, DC. remotely, but it
appeared to be that the jobs and the opportunities for people
to locate in the middle of the country and perhaps have young
farm sons and daughters engaged in agriculture and strengthen
the tie between production agriculture and research was yet not
completed. Again, I ask your commitment that--and you said this
earlier, but I want to reiterate the importance of making sure
that what was promised, what was believed that was happening
actually happens. That includes people working from the
location of the offices in Kansas City.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, you have my commitment. I believe
there have been Executive Orders with regard to office
attendance and such as that, and we will ensure that those are
followed at the direction of the President.
Senator Moran. I fully support the idea that people who
work in government, but those who work ought to be at work. It
is particularly helpful in agriculture and in research where
the cooperation and the personal contact is important. We have
had these conversations with Secretary Rollins and others about
FSA and NRCS workers in county offices. Those are hugely
important to the mission of the Department of Agriculture and
that local contact and capability is significant.
Let me ask Dr. Hutchins about data reporting. The cattle
industry plays a significant role in our state. We have nearly
six million head of cattle. We have had significant drought
conditions and their financial stresses are impacting ranchers,
and they impact them in a way that help determine the size of
their herd. Many of those constituents of mine rely upon the
July cattle report, as well as the county estimates for crops
and livestock to make midyear assessments and determine how to
proceed for the remainder of the year. I was disappointed when
these reports were discontinued last year, and I appreciate
USDA reinstating them this March.
Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, will you commit to continuing
these reports that NASS provides that give farmers and ranchers
the information they need to make better financial and
management decisions?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, yes. The National Ag Statistics
Service provides the data and the insights that farmers,
administrators, policymakers need to make good decisions. As a
scientist, I am a big believer in data and data-driven
decisions, and so, yes, that type of information will be
pursued.
Senator Moran. I will not ask a question because of the 16
seconds that remain on the clock, but I wanted to highlight
that Senator Hirono and I----
Senator Klobuchar. You can.
Senator Moran. Oh, my colleague says I cannot. Senator
Hirono and I have introduced legislation called the Ag Research
Act, and what we are attempting to do is to provide funding for
research institutions to cut down on their maintenance backlogs
and to invest in infrastructure at research facilities. I have
seen a number of those research facilities across the country
and in Kansas, and investment in infrastructure seems to be the
thing that has been overlooked in the mission of providing the
research. We have forgotten how to maintain our buildings and
our research and how to have the latest equipment. I assume for
both of you that that concept and that legislation would be
something that would be supported, and I would ask both of you
if that is the case.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, the good news about our land grant
system is that it has been established for a long time. The bad
news is some of those buildings and capital need to be
refreshed and refurbished and so forth. Certainly, I commit to
you that whatever funding is provided by Congress, that we will
make the best use of that to ensure the facilities are
improved.
Senator Moran. Thank you.
Mr. Hoskins. Senator, I would not endeavor to try to
improve on Dr. Hutchins' response, but I would concur with it.
Senator Moran. Thank you.
Senator Klobuchar. Okay.
Senator Moran. Thank you both.
Senator Klobuchar. Very good. Thank you. Senator Slotkin.
Senator Slotkin. Thank you. Welcome to both of you.
Dr. Hutchins, I want to continue on what Senator Moran was
talking about, which is the importance of research. I am from
Michigan, and farming is a huge part of our life, and Michigan
State University, a great land grant university, does a ton of
agricultural research. I grew up on my family farm in Holly,
Michigan, so this is an issue that is close to my heart. I am
also a CIA officer by training, so I think about agriculture
through a national security lens.
What I am concerned about is that, assuming you will be
confirmed into your job, you will oversee the single potential
largest cut to agricultural research in American history. The
President's budget proposes a $600 million cut to research.
While I will sign on to any bill that promotes research and
infrastructure because my farmers depend on it, what I am
concerned about is the President's budget says that there is
$600 million of agricultural research that is either woke or
waste. Do you believe that $600 million of our current research
in things like potato, you know, varietals and legumes and all
the things that like my farmers are desperate for, do you
believe that we have $600 million of either woke or wasteful
research right now?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.
Truthfully, in order to answer that question in any meaningful
way, I would need to understand the specifics of what is being
proposed and what is not. I have no idea the value of what is
in that context, but what I can commit to you, Senator, is that
we will utilize whatever money Congress provides in order to
ensure that we are having the best return on investment, that
we are supporting all the farmers----
Senator Slotkin. I got it.
Dr. Hutchins [continuing]. that we can in your state and
others.
Senator Slotkin. I would just say you do not want to be the
guy who oversees the biggest agricultural cut in research in
American history. Tell me in your best estimation the one
country in the world who is doing significant agricultural
research now, that is investing heavily in agricultural
research besides the United States.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I am sure it would be China.
Senator Slotkin. It has got to be China. I am not trying to
play gotcha. I am just saying that it is a zero-sum situation,
right? We want to invent the next varietal. We want to figure
out the next best farming technique. China is stealing our
technology, our intellectual property, and then investing
boatloads into their own research. I do not want to be second
to them. I want to always be the world leader. I would just
offer that not only do I want that kind of as a national
security thing, but our farmers want to be able to compete,
right?
We have closed the legume research facility at Michigan
State University, the potato variety. When I do townhalls with
farmers who are, I promise you, not people I consider woke or
wasteful, they are the ones who are saying, can you bring that
back? Can you help me figure out how to get that? Because
otherwise, what are we going to be investing in? How are we
going to stay competitive?
I would just ask for you to stand up on behalf of that
research, which is not woke, which is not wasteful, but is
going to the farmers who we all, I think, on this Committee
want to protect and want to see succeed. I just ask you to
stand up for research when and if you are confirmed for this
job.
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, Secretary Rollins has made it very
clear her support for small farmers and their needs, and I will
stand with her in that regard.
Senator Slotkin. Well, I hope you will. Let me just turn to
Mr. Hoskins. You will be overseeing the departments that look
at avian flu, right, that make sure that we do not have an
outbreak. Michigan, we had an early outbreak, and we did, I
think, a pretty darn good job of controlling it, and I think we
have become a model around the country. Again, I am concerned
that there has been firings from the Department of Agriculture
of people who work on avian flu and then rehiring them the next
week. There has been kind of this sloppy approach.
Then in terms of the buyouts that were offered, I
understand that over half of the veterinarians who coordinate
the testing and research on avian flu took the buyout. What are
you going to do to make sure that with all the staffing firings
and changing and voluntary departures, you are going to still
be able to have a handle on the next version of avian flu?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and for
the time your staff gave me in your office before today's
hearing. They raised this issue and a number of others.
Obviously, with high-path in Michigan, you all have a diversity
of production practices that are impacted both on the poultry
and dairy side.
I have looked at Secretary Rollins' five-pronged approach
in addressing and mitigating high-path AI, and if I were
confirmed, I would do everything I could to implement that
posthaste.
To your question on staffing, as someone who is not at the
Department currently, I am not privy to the briefings or
assessments of resource needs or gaps, if any, but what I would
commit to if confirmed was making that assessment and
supporting and standing by Secretary Rollins' public comments
that she will ensure APHIS has an adequate workforce to address
their core mission, which includes protecting U.S. agriculture
from animal and plant diseases.
Senator Slotkin. Well, I wish you luck in that. I hope you
do. Thank you. Yield back.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Fischer.
Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to
both of our nominees that are here today. I really appreciate
you putting yourselves forward in order to serve this country.
First, Mr. Hoskins, I thank you for taking the time to meet
with me yesterday. As we discussed, there are clearly
challenges facing USDA with animal disease, whether it is avian
flu or New World screwworm. We also discussed the importance of
having science being the driving force when it comes to
regulatory actions that impact agriculture across the
government, and I look forward to you helping to ensure that.
Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed for your role, you are going to
oversee the Agricultural Research Service. I have talked to
Secretary Rollins about the importance of ensuring that we are
funding innovative and high-impact research that benefits our
farmers and ranchers.
In Nebraska, we have been working to secure funding for an
ARS facility that will be co-located at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, and that is going to be focused on precision
ag research. Last year, we broke ground on that facility with
many agricultural stakeholders present and excited about the
potential research to take place there.
Dr. Hutchins, should you be confirmed, can I get your
commitment to continue to work with me on that facility and to
bring high-impact precision agriculture research to fruition?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.
Certainly, the University of Nebraska has a tremendous
reputation and capability as a land grant institution, and I do
not have any background or information on the specific
laboratory and the mission and the purpose with it. What I will
certainly commit to you is to learn that, and as we evaluate
all the opportunities to work with you to ensure that it
provides the best value to U.S. farmers and ranchers.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. Secretary Rollins has also
discussed that she is going to be releasing a reorganization
plan for USDA that could entail moving agencies outside of the
D.C. metro. I agree with Senator Rollins that having more USDA
employees closer to farmers and ranchers that they serve is a
good thing and could save taxpayer dollars.
I have also brought up to Secretary Rollins that Nebraska
would be a great location for agencies like the ones that you
two will be in charge of, close proximity to a number of
leading land grant universities, a strong agricultural industry
that is supported by the state, and a lower cost of living.
Dr. Hutchins, you were involved in the last
Administration's move of ERS and NIFA to Kansas City. Could you
talk about some of the benefits from that, and do you think
that is something that should be under consideration again?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. In the
case of ERS and NIFA, the business case for that or the case
for the taxpayer was pretty clear in terms of cost savings and
value and the opportunity to recruit and to retain, frankly,
within that area. As I had mentioned previously today, I do not
have a good handle right now on the status of that full
situation, but those core principles that Secretary Perdue
advocated for at that time are still true today, and so we will
follow-up on that. Those same principles, I think, would carry
over to any assessment that would be done for any agency in
that context.
I think, you know, in every evaluation, you want to do the
right thing for the agency, for the taxpayers, and for the
farmers. In some cases, it will make a lot of sense. In other
cases, it may not make as much.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. In Nebraska, we are also proud
of the work that is being done at the USDA's Meat Animal
Research Center in Clay Center and the strong relationship that
they have with livestock producers in the state and across the
country. We are the beef state.
Like many of the facilities across the ARS enterprise, they
are in need of facility improvements. I have heard, though,
that contracting requirements and other regulatory hurdles can
increase the cost of these facility improvements, especially at
a facility like USMARC that is a working farm and ranch. From
your experience, Doctor, and working with USDA, are there ways
that the agency can be more efficient with taxpayer dollars
when it comes to being able to identify these very valuable
facilities and the work they do and maintaining them and
improving them?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, the simple answer is yes. In every
organization I have ever worked in, public and private, there
is always opportunity to improve efficiency and effectiveness
and really focus on the goals and the outcomes there. That
would be my commitment to do with these agencies and any
enterprise I was involved with.
Senator Fischer. Thank you both. I look forward to working
with you in your new positions. Thank you.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Klobuchar.
Senator Klobuchar. Yep, I just have one last question, and
then I will put two questions on the record to save time with
the votes on local foods of you, Mr. Hoskins, and then also on
some specific ag research in Minnesota.
My last question here is the Ag Marketing Service has a
mandate to ensure fair and transparent markets across livestock
and commodities. Under the previous Administration, USDA used
its authority with a Chief Competition Officer, Cattle
Contracts Library, and some other interagency efforts.
Mr. Hoskins, how will you ensure that you are fulfilling
this obligation and continuing on this progress of ensuring
there is competition?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Ranking Member
Klobuchar. I recognize this was one of the issues you raised
when I had a chance to meet with you in your office last week.
What I could say, if I were confirmed, I would commit to
ensuring AMS, the Fair Trade Practices Program, which includes
Packers and Stockyards, PACA, the Perishable Ag Commodity Act,
and the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Rule, all kind of that
suite of disclosure and transparency authorities Congress has
passed and mandated the agency implement, I would commit to
ensuring the agency was complying with the congressional spirit
and intent of those laws and authorities.
Beyond that, as a nominee before the Committee, I
personally feel like it would be inappropriate for me to
speculate on potential or future rulemakings the Department may
consider or may not consider. I could just commit to complying
with the mandate Congress has given us.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much. Thank you, both of
you.
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you.
Chairman Boozman. We have got a high-level conference back
here. We have got a Member that is trying to get over here, so
we are going to give them a minute. If they come in a minute or
so, we are in good shape. If not, then we will go ahead and
adjourn, but let's give them a chance. We are going to not
adjourn officially for another minute or two, but you can yawn,
take a break, do whatever you want to do for a second.
It is hard with the votes. As many of you know, we have a
new kind of a--we did not enforce the get-over-and-vote-on-time
rule. It was very, very lax, so they have really tightened it
up, and now, if you are not over there within a certain period
of time, they actually call the vote, and you just miss out.
Some things we can do and not do, but primarily, we are here to
vote. You guys got any other questions or comments?
Senator Schiff.
Senator Schiff. Thank you, Chairman.
The success of California's agriculture industry is at
least partially thanks to the very specialized knowledge and
work of USDA experts. It is principally the success of the
hardworking people in the agriculture industry who are some of
the hardest-working people I have ever met.
As two examples of the role that USDA experts play, and
there are many more, APHIS protects California growers against
citrus greening disease, and ARS conducts research on the
efficacy and efficiency of irrigated agriculture in vine and
tree orchards.
Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins, based on your experience at
USDA, can you both briefly speak to the importance of APHIS,
AMS, ARS, NIFA, and ERS staff at the Department in securing the
safety, innovation, and overall success of California's
specialty crop industry?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. I guess
I will go first, just alphabetically, not in substance. I would
just say, when I think about that question, first from just an
APHIS programmatic side, the mandate and authorities, this
Committee, this Congress, this chamber has given the agency to
help work in support and collaboration with your growers, your
ag community in California, the California Department of Food
and Ag, which plays an essential role as a partner in
identifying, mitigating, and preventing both the plant-pest
side of the equation and animal disease surveillance and
response activities. When I look at that portfolio, no matter
where APHIS is or what issue we are talking about, the state
partnership is absolutely essential. CDFA has been instrumental
and indispensable in that equation for as long as I have had
the privilege to work in this space.
To your question on staffing, as someone who is not at the
Department currently and does not have the benefit of internal
briefings or assessments of bodies or resources or capacity,
all I can say is I have heard Secretary Rollins state publicly
her support and mandate that APHIS will ensure an adequate
workforce to meet their mandate.
Senator Schiff. Thank you. Dr. Hutchins?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. I have
had the pleasure of traveling your state extensively. I have
seen the great agriculture there, from the rice fields near
Sacramento to the almond plantations to the Salinas Valley to
the cotton. It is a wondrous place from an agricultural
standpoint. It is a candy land for sure. Without a doubt, the
federal agencies and USDA research, as well as the University
of California and the local agencies have had a tremendous
impact on the success of agriculture in your state,
particularly with the areas where developing methods and
technologies for drought tolerance and so forth. What I can
speak to is the fact that those types of activities have been
critically important to California, and they will continue to
be.
Senator Schiff. Mr. Hoskins, can you comment on the work
that can be done to reduce barriers to participation in the
commodity procurement programs for small, medium, new or
beginning farmers and how we can create more opportunities for
more farmers to provide healthy food?
Mr. Hoskins. Yes, thank you for that question, Senator.
When I think about the Commodity Procurement Program, the
Section 32 authority at AMS and their mandate to facilitate
surplus removal and how their assessment is done to execute on
that mandate, I also think about just some of the complexities
that the agency is required to comply with under larger than
just USDA authorities or compliance. It is the Federal
Procurement Act and the cascade of regulations and steps
vendors or participants have to go through to access that
program.
I do not pretend to understand that matrix, but what I
could commit to is if I were confirmed, I would want to work
with you, your office, your staff, this Committee, the Senate,
to better understand how or if or when the agency can reduce
some of those impediments to participation for producers of all
size.
Senator Schiff. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.
Chairman Boozman. Senator Justice.
Senator Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Well, we are all doing a lot of running right now. You know
that. Dudley Hoskins and Dr. Scott Hutchins, I can tell you
without any question, we need you in place, and we need you in
place right now. Your duties are going to be unbelievable, and
I hope that you really truly know that and will not go through
the motions, but you will really try to do what Muhammad Ali,
of all people, said years and years ago. He shook up the world,
and that is really what we really need to be doing.
Now, just think about this. You know, a lot of times I do
not put these notes together, but our folks, you know, just
jotted down just a few notes. Think about one of the notes
says, one U.S. farmer feeds 169 people in this country or in
the world. It says agriculture, our lifeblood. It says things
like how critical the research of our land grant universities
are.
With all that being said, you know, Mr. Hoskins, you said
earlier, you know, that your dad said, you know, wow, the good
Lord created the Earth or the universe in seven days, the
Earth, and with all that being said, but still has not figured
out the cattle market. I can positively guarantee you that in
the last couple of years, the good Lord figured out the cattle
market because the cattle market has moved, and it has moved in
a great way. We need the same thing to happen for all of our
folks in agriculture.
You know, see, my family has been in the agriculture
business forever, and I truly know exactly what is going on out
there. You know, you got a lot of people that are scared to
death right now. We need your marketing arm. We need absolutely
in every way for you to step up and really make that difference
to where you are shaking up the whole world.
You know, with all that being said, I would say to you from
the bottom of my heart, it is so important, it is so
unbelievably important today that we get a farm bill, that we
absolutely put our great farmers to where they can at least
rest while they are doing the most unbelievable work. You know,
so, like I said, I have run from vote to vote or whatever and
committee to committee in a lot of different directions today.
I wanted to speak because I think our Chairman is a
superstar. That is all there is to it. There is so many, you
know, whether it be your Ranking Members or other folks on the
Committee here that do great work. All these people out here
depend now on you in every way, so do not let us down. Have an
unbelievable passion for what you are doing.
You know, one of the things, I am really--not only am I a
business guy, I am not a politician. You know, I am really
proud of the fact of how in tune that I am with our farming
industry all across this great land. With that said, in
addition to that, I am a conservationist. I have done so many
programs for wildlife it is unbelievable. You know, and the
only question I think that I could possibly ask, you know, of
all is just one thing. In the State of West Virginia, we are
trying to reintroduce elk into West Virginia. My question here
would be just this, is what steps, what additional steps can be
taken to the survivability of this majestic creature that is
being absolutely reintroduced into West Virginia today?
Mr. Hoskins, maybe that is a question for you, sir.
Mr. Hoskins. Yes, thank you for that question, Senator. Dr.
Hutchins may have other equities here under the ARS umbrella,
but my recollection working with APHIS in the first Trump
Administration under Secretary Perdue, there are some protocols
and processes that Veterinary Services works with stakeholder
groups and state veterinarians to facilitate the transfer and
reintroduction of certain species, including elk. All I could
say, if I were confirmed, I would do my level best to ensure
APHIS and VS were working closely with the state animal health
officials and the stakeholders interested in promoting that
relocation and introduction to facilitate that in a way that
did not compromise animal health.
Senator Justice. Well, thank you both. I know you will do
great work, and I will stand ready to try to help any way I
possibly can.
Mr. Chairman, thank you.
Chairman Boozman. Thank you, Senator Justice. Senator
Welch.
Senator Welch. Thank you very much. Thank you, gentlemen. I
am very delighted to have you here.
I wanted to ask a question to Mr. Hoskins about the
National Organic Program. In Vermont, we have got 690 USDA
organic certified farms, and that is about $153 million in
sales. It is a big deal. Our organic farmers want clear,
consistent organic regulations. That is the foundation of a
thriving organic market. My hope is that you will--given the
recent staff reductions at the National Organic Program, how
does USDA intend to maintain support both for transitioning and
existing organic producers so that this organic sector that
does have a lot of value added can continue to grow?
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator, and to
your staff for making themselves available to me to meet in
your office before today's hearing. They raised this issue and
a number of other priorities you have on behalf of Vermont
agricultural producers.
In my experience with the AMS National Organic Program, you
have absolutely the most committed, informed career officials
working to implement that program consistent with the National
Organic Food Production Act that this Committee and the Senate
passed, I think, in 1990.
There are challenges at times, in my recollection, with the
agency working with different certifiers, especially certifiers
that are overseas certifying product coming into the U.S. I do
not know that there is an answer to all of those challenges,
but I would say in the 2018 Farm Bill, this Committee and the
Congress passed the Organic Safety Act. I have got the acronym
wrong; I apologize. It basically mandated the Department would
update and modernize their ability to protect the integrity of
the organic seal. There were ways to do that, both with
partnerships with CBP and DHS, and also modernizing technology
and resources the agency could use to better pierce that veil
in certifiers overseas to ensure products that were coming in
were consistent with the same level of attention and practices
that our producers execute.
Senator Welch. Thank you. Mr. Hutchins, welcome.
Dr. Hutchins. Thank you.
Senator Welch. You know, you have been a champion of
acknowledging just the hardship that wild weather is imposing
on a lot of our producers. You know, we had floods in Vermont
in 2023 and 2024, the same day in July 2023 and 2024. You have
previously told this Committee that USDA is fully committed to
supporting research that ensures U.S. producers will be able to
adapt to a changing climate. That is welcome news because our
farmers think any information we can get will help us.
One of the things I wanted to ask is, how can the Research,
Education, and Economics mission at USDA help make rural
communities and farmers more resilient?
Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. As I
alluded to earlier, I believe that we have a great opportunity
in front of us with regard to the science that leads to the
technology that will allow us to develop crops and animals to
be more resilient to heat, to be more resilient to drought,
whatever the case may be. We need to be able to utilize those
tools that exist.
Senator Welch. You will maintain that? You will do all you
can to help there?
Dr. Hutchins. Farmers have been dealing with weather year
in and year out since farming, and so that will always
continue. The good news is we will have the tools. We do have
the tools now to allow them to succeed.
Senator Welch. I am almost out of time so I want to move on
to one other question.
There was a lot of support in Vermont for the Local Food
for Schools Program and the Local Food Purchasing Assistance
programs. I was very disappointed that those programs were
canceled a few months ago. If you are confirmed, can you work
with us to help restart programs like that? They have been
shown to strengthen local food supply chains. That is a big
deal for us.
Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. This is
another issue your staff raised when I had a chance to meet
with them. I understand your concern and frustration. I heard a
number of different offices and staff raise those same
questions. Not being at the Department and not privy to the
internal briefings or assessments on what programs or needs are
being met or should be met, I do not know if I can speak to
that directly. What I would say is under the Ag Marketing
Service Agency, this Committee and the Senate have directed
that agency through different farm bills and other authorities
to facilitate local agricultural marketing production and
connecting some of that local food resiliency system.
I do not know that it would be carbon copy to what you are
hearing or looking at under the LFPA, but there are existing
programs where AMS may be able to meet some of those similar
needs that Congress has already mandated the agency undertake.
If committed, I would continue to work with the agencies to
ensure compliance with the law.
Senator Welch. Okay, thank you.
I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Boozman. Thank you and thank you again to Mr.
Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins for appearing before the Committee and
again to our Committee Members for their participation, the
hard work of the staff to make all this happen, as always, on
both sides.
The record will remain open for two business days. With
that, today's hearing is now adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 12:16 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
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A P P E N D I X
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