Biden nominee Jennifer Moffitt said she would strengthen USDA rules to give farmers more muscle in dealing with meat processors if she is confirmed as agriculture undersecretary for marketing. “Should I be confirmed, I do commit to supporting trade, to supporting fair marketplace practices,” she told senators on Thursday.
During the hearing, Moffitt cited President Biden’s executive order for federal agencies to promote competition. One-fifth of the president’s 72 recommendations for action were assigned to the USDA, including a call for tougher fair-play rules in livestock marketing, a lightning rod issue for years. In a related move, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that at least $500 million in USDA loans and grants is available to expand meat processing capacity.
“Transparency is important, price discovery is important, regional processing capacity is important,” said Moffitt. “All of these things together are very important to create a fair and robust agricultural economy.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Moffitt would be in charge of agricultural marketing programs, from so-called checkoff programs and grain inspection to assuring fair competition in the marketplace, protecting U.S. crops and livestock from pests and diseases, and regulating genetically engineered crops.
During the hearing, a handful of senators urged the USDA to go ahead with a Trump-era proposal that the USDA, rather than the FDA, regulate GE food-bearing animals.
Fair-play rules for livestock marketing have been contentious for years; two Republican senators took opposite sides on the issue during Moffit’s hearing. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley applauded the administration’s “very aggressive rulemaking and effort to increase competition within agriculture.” But Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said the revisions could be unpopular and costly. He asked Moffitt how she would approach the task.
“I definitely will take a nuanced approach,” she said. “I know how important it is to factor in all of the different facets, hear from people around the country.”
For years, Congress blocked the implementation of fair-play reforms known as the GIPSA rule. The Trump administration quashed a similar Obama-era regulation. The Biden package would cover much of the same ground, including making it easier for a producer to prove unfair treatment by a processor; setting new guidelines for the use of so-called tournament systems by processors to determine pay for poultry farmers; and revamping its descriptions of unfair and deceptive practices, undue preferences, and unjust prejudices by processors.
Moffitt, now undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, grew up on, and later managed, her family’s walnut farm. “Each day, I carry with me the experience of working on the farm,” she said of her perspective as a policymaker.
Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow ended the confirmation hearing by saying Moffitt was “the right person” to run the USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs, “and I am pleased to support you.” A committee vote on the nomination is expected soon but has not yet been scheduled.
To watch a video of the confirmation hearing or to read Moffitt’s written testimony, click here.