Wisconsin Ag Connection - National/World News - Northey, Ibach, Vaden Get USDA Nods from Trump

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Northey, Ibach, Vaden Get USDA Nods from Trump
USAgNet - 09/05/2017

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded President Trump's selection of three individuals for key positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The president announced Gregory Ibach, currently the Nebraska secretary of agriculture, as under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs (MRP); Bill Northey, currently the Iowa secretary of agriculture, as under secretary for farm production and conservation (FPAC), and Stephen Vaden, a Yale law graduate who served on the Trump transition's USDA landing team, as USDA's general counsel.

The under secretary for MRP oversees three critical USDA agencies: the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; the Agricultural Marketing Service; and the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. The under secretary for FPAC oversees three critical USDA agencies: the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Risk Management Agency.

"I look forward to the confirmations of Greg Ibach, Bill Northey, and Stephen Vaden, and urge the Senate to take up their nominations as quickly as possible," Perdue said. "This is especially important given the challenges USDA will face in helping Texans and Louisianans recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey."

"Greg Ibach will bring the experience and vision necessary to serve as a first rate Under Secretary for MRP at USDA. His exemplary tenure as Nebraska's Director of Agriculture places him squarely in tune with the needs of American agriculture, particularly the cattle industry. His proven track record of leadership will make him a great asset to USDA's customers, the hard working, taxpaying people of U.S. agriculture," Perdue said.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts congratulated Ibach on the news.

"During his 12 years as director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Greg helped grow Nebraska by building the Nebraska brand and Nebraska's international trade relationships," said Ricketts. "Greg brings outstanding experience to this role. While we will miss Greg's day-to-day presence here in Nebraska, he will continue to be a resource for Nebraska as we partner with him in his new role as well as a tremendous asset to the USDA and President Trump's Administration. I urge the President to send his nomination to the U.S. Senate, and urge senators to take up his confirmation in a timely manner."

Ibach, a lifelong rancher and farmer, has also been active in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture since his appointment as NDA's director in 2005 serving as chair of the marketing and international trade committee, animal and plant health committee, and, most recently, as president. He earned his B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Nebraska with majors in Animal Science and Agricultural Economics.

On Northey, Perdue noted that "Bill Northey will continue his honorable record of public service in leading FPAC. Having served the people of Iowa for the last 10 years as their Secretary of Agriculture, and as a fourth generation corn and soybean farmer, Bill has a unique understanding of issues facing farmers across the nation. He will be an invaluable member of the team."

Northey is a 4th generation farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa, and is currently serving his third term as Iowa ag secretary. Northey is a past-president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and serves as co-chair of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force. Northey served as president of the National Corn Growers Association from 1995 to 1996. He served on the Iowa U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency state committee and as a Dickinson County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner. Northey graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Business and received an M.B.A. from Southwest Minnesota State University. Northey and his wife Cindy have three grown daughters and five grandchildren.

"Stephen Vaden has a keen legal mind, as we have already experienced through his work since he joined USDA as part of the beachhead team on day one. He has a firm grasp of the legal issues facing American agriculture, and very importantly, understands the breadth and complexity of the regulatory burdens placed on our producers. Our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers will be well served by his counsel," Perdue said.

Vaden continues to make his home in Union City, Tenn., where he lives with his brother Samuel and mother Wanda Stephens Vaden. His late father John was a farmer for most of his 97 years.

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