U.S. Department of Agriculture officials Chavonda Jacobs-Young and Zach Ducheneaux were among witnesses testifying Sept. 29 during the 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Title XII – Department Operations and Outreach hearing before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations.
Jacobs-Young is undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics and USDA chief scientist, and Ducheneaux is administrator with the Farm Service Agency, according to the event details.
“Production agriculture requires constant innovation and adaptation as farmers and ranchers pursue climate-smart solutions to extreme weather, rural businesses seek new markets, and underserved communities seek trusted partners to tackle systemic issues,” Jacobs-Young and Ducheneaux said in a statement. “Access to information and outreach underpins each of these objectives, and REE and FSA are well-positioned to be partners in providing timely research, tools, extension and technical support producers need.”
In the statement, Jacobs-Young and Ducheneaux promoted equity.
"We know that family farms and ranchers want to stay on their land, like they often have for generations. That’s why we are pleased that President Biden and Secretary Vilsack are strongly committed to supporting equitable outreach to producers, which we believe will define agriculture for coming decades," the statement said.
Furthermore, Jacobs-Young and Ducheneaux announced the availability of up to $550 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding in August to support projects which will enable underserved producers to better access land, capital and markets and train the next generation of agricultural professionals, according to the statement.
"These provisions aim to help ensure underserved producers have the resources, tools, programs and technical support that they need to succeed,” the statement added.
Signed into law Dec. 20, 2018, by President Donald Trump, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, called the Farm Bill, “reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies Department of Agriculture programs” addressing several areas, including commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, rural development and research and extension activities, Congress.gov said.
