WASHINGTON, June 30, 2015 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced the appointment of 129 private-sector members to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs).
"USDA and USTR rely on the individuals who serve on these committees to provide their expert advice on U.S. trade policy and priorities," said Vilsack. "They are an invaluable asset as we work to enact trade agreements and trade policies that deliver the greatest economic benefit for U.S. agriculture and for our nation as a whole," Vilsack said. "The last six years have been the strongest in history for U.S. agricultural exports, with international sales of American farm and food exports totaling $771.7 billion. Those exports now support more than a million quality American jobs. As we negotiate new trade agreements in Asia and Europe we will rely on APAC and ATAC members' expertise and knowledge to bring home the best possible deals." "The strength of our trade agenda is dependent on the advice and counsel we receive from our trade advisors," said Froman. "And, now is more important than ever as we pursue the most ambitious trade agenda ever for America's farmers, ranchers and businesses of all sizes. The individuals we are appointing today represent one of the most important sectors to America's export economy and will provide critical advice as we negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and work to expand export opportunities for American agriculture." Congress established the advisory committee system in 1974 to ensure a private-sector voice in establishing U.S. agricultural trade policy objectives to reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative jointly manage the committees.
The APAC provides advice and information to the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative on the administration of trade policy, including enforcement of existing trade agreements and negotiating objectives for new trade agreements. The ATACs offer technical advice and information about specific commodities and products.
This group of committee members will serve until June 15, 2019. They will be supplemented by additional appointments over the next four years. Applications are encouraged at any time and will be reviewed periodically for additional appointments. A complete list of committee members and information about applying is available at www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-advisory-committees. Questions may be sent via e-mail to ATACs@fas.usda.gov.
Appointees, by committee, are as follows: Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Gary Adams - National Cotton Council of America Cynthia Allen - Allen Farms Dale Artho - Dale and Kathy Artho Farms Carlos Ayala - Perdue Foods, LLC Steve Baccus - Baccus Farms, Inc.
Laura Batcha - Organic Trade Association Devry Boughner - Cargill, Inc.
L. Dow Brantley, III - Brantley Farming Co.
Jon Caspers - National Pork Producers Council Stephen L. Censky - American Soybean Association Annie W. Durbin - U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council Marsha A. Echols - World Food Law Institute Jerry Flint - DuPont Pioneer Nancy E. Foster - National Renderers Association Hezekiah Gibson - United Farmers USA/Gibson Farm Earnest Chandler Goule - National Farmers Union Thomas A. Hammer - National Oilseed Processors Association Shannon S.S. Herzfeld - Archer Daniels Midland Company Robert P. Koch - Wine Institute Elmira Mangum - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Brenda N. Morris - Morris Farms, LLC Daniel D. Moss - Moss Ag and Arrowhead Potato Company Thomas A. Nassif - Western Growers Christian E. Schlect - Northwest Horticultural Council Philip M. Seng - U.S. Meat Export Federation Joseph Steinkamp - Steinkamp Farms, Inc.
Thomas E. Stenzel - United Fresh Produce Association Reneé Toussaint-Strickland - Strickland Ranch and Exports, Inc.
Michael Stuart - Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Thomas M. Suber - U.S. Dairy Export Council James H. Sumner - USA Poultry and Egg Export Council Rayne Thompson - Sunkist Growers Alan T. Tracy - U.S. Wheat Associates, Inc.
Larry B. Wooten - North Carolina Farm Bureau Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products Kurt L. Brandt - United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Tracy L. Brunner - Cow Camp, Inc.
Jaime A. Castaneda - National Milk Producers Federation Anthony E. Clayton - Clayton Agri-Marketing, Inc.
Steven L. Foglesong - Black Gold Ranch and Feedlot Thad Lively - U.S. Meat Export Federation James Robert McCan - McFaddin Enterprises Todd Menotti - Tyson Foods, Inc.
Lisa Wallenda Picard - National Turkey Federation Don Shawcroft - John B. Shawcroft Ranches, LLLP Hal Shenson - Nature's SunGrown Foods, Inc.
Dennis Stiffler - Mountain States Rosen Peter Tabor - Pet Food Institute John J. Wilson - Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables Julie Adams - Almond Board of California Reginald Brown - Florida Tomato Exchange James R. Cranney, Jr. - California Citrus Quality Council John Foster - Earthbound Farm Robert Guenther - United Fresh Produce Association Matt Harris - Washington State Potato Commission Richard Hudgins - California Canning Peach Association Randy Hudson - National Pecan Growers Council Marcy L. Martin - California Fresh Fruit Association Ken Melban - California Avocado Commission Mike Montna - California Tomato Growers Association Dale Murden - Texas Citrus Mutual Joel Nelsen - California Citrus Mutual Shannen Nettleton - Seneca Foods Jim A. Zion - Meridian Growers, LLC Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds Stan Baker - Baker Seed Technologies, Inc.
Rebecca Bratter -U.S. Dry Bean Council Lynn Clarkson - Clarkson Grain Company, Inc.
Sharon L. Covert - Illinois Soybean Association Robert E. Cummings, Jr. - USA Rice Federation Dennis DeLaughter - U.S. Rice Producers Association Neal H. Fisher - North Dakota Wheat Commission Ron Gray - Gray Farms, Inc.
Craig Hill - Iowa Farm Bureau William Hoffman - Hoffman Farms Donald E. Latham - United Soybean Board Karen Lowe - CoBank, ACB Michael D. Nichols - Nichols Family Farms, LLC J. Steve Peirce, Jr. - RIBUS, Inc.
Bernice Slutsky - American Seed Trade Association Larry David Stenberg - DOW AgroSciences Matt Stutzman - Stutzman Farms, Inc.
Ron Suppes - Suppes Farms Rodney W. Van Orman - Anderson Hay and Grain Co., Inc.
Gary Wertish - Minnesota Farmer's Union Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods Robert B. Anderson - Organic Trade Association Robert Bauer - Association of Food Industries Muhammad M. Chaudry - Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America George R. Davis - Porter Creek Vineyards Thomas S. Gellert - Cheese Importers Association of America Barbara Gilbert - United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Ann Grappin - American Potato Trade Alliance Tim Hamilton - Food Export Association of the Midwest USA/Food Export USA Northeast Lisa Hill - Ocean Spray International Services, Inc.
Karen S. Horan - National Confectioners Association Tom LaFaille - Wine Institute Christine LoCascio - Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc.
David McCaleb - Brewers Association John McDermid - PepsiCo Bill J. McFarland - Musco Family Olive Company Autumn V. Price - Land O'Lakes Melissa San Miguel - Grocery Manufacturers Association Paul Schiefer - Amy's Kitchen Kelly Shea - The WhiteWave Foods Company Ron Tanner - Specialty Food Association Sue Taylor - Leprino Foods Peter Thornton - North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Bernadette M. Wiltz - Southern United States Trade Association Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweeteners and Sweetener Products Perry J. Cerminara - The Hershey Company Arnold Coombs - Bascom Family Farms Thomas Earley - Agralytica, Inc.
Patrick Henneberry - Imperial Sugar Company Roland E. Hoch - Global Organics Ltd.
James W. Johnson, Jr. - U.S. Beet Sugar Association Keith Krause - McKee Foods Corporation Luther Markwart - American Sugar Beet Growers Association Kevin Price - American Crystal Sugar Company Jim Simon - American Sugar Cane League of the USA, Inc.
Ryan Weston - Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company John Yonover - Indiana Sugars, Inc.
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts T. Patrick Archer - American Peanut Council Michelle Huffman - National Cotton Council of America Don Koehler - Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts Monique Muggli - Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Richard Pasco - American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
Evans J. Plowden, Jr. - American Peanut Shellers Association Roger F. Quarles - Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association J. Michael Quinn - Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative, Inc.
Harvey Schroeder - Oklahoma Cotton Council Sledge Taylor - Buckeye Farms Randy Veach - Arkansas Farm Bureau # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
