USDA Announces New Plan for National Security
TOPICS
USDASam Kieffer
Vice President, Public Policy
Chad Smith
Associate News Service Editor, NAFB
photo credit: Colorado Farm Bureau, Used with Permission
Sam Kieffer
Vice President, Public Policy
Chad Smith
Associate News Service Editor, NAFB
A new USDA plan is aimed to help improve national security by protecting agriculture. Chad Smith has more on the initiative.
Smith: Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new initiative from USDA that focuses on agriculture as a key component of protecting national security. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the plan covers a wide swath of issues.
Kieffer: Well, it's a seven-part plan for addressing agriculture security, and it includes limiting ownership of American farmland by adversaries of the United States. Also involves enhancing supply chain resilience and safeguarding both plant and animal health. Perhaps most importantly, the Agriculture Secretary has been added to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Smith: Kieffer says it’s logical that the Secretary of Agriculture has a seat on the Committee, also known as CFIUS.
Kieffer: They investigate and consider and approve or disapprove any U.S. business merging with or being acquired by foreign investors. So, it only makes sense that the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture also serve in that capacity. This is a positive step towards managing who contributes to our food supply chain.
Smith: Kieffer says it’s important to keep this issue in perspective, as only about 3% of all privately held U.S. agriculture land is foreign-owned.
Kieffer: We understand and appreciate the need to protect the sensitive aspects of the American food system. And it's important to remember that food security is indeed national security, and we want to ensure that any steps by USDA or by the Trump administration protect American agriculture while also preserving the freedom and abilities of farmers to develop, to invest and to sell their land, depending on their unique circumstances.
Smith: For more information, go to fb.org. Chad Smith, Washington.
