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ERS/NIFA move under fire during Senate Ag hearing

Senate Ag leaders questioned USDA’s motives to move the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture out of Washington D.C. during a committee hearing Thursday.

Chair Pat Roberts of Kansas supports the move to his part of the country which has a strong history of ag research but says the department needs to continue to produce quality reports without delay. “With any significant structural change, it is vital we ensure that the research missions remain intact.”       

Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says she’s deeply concerned the administration is undermining the ag research mission of USDA. “It’s still unclear to me what problem the administration is trying to solve with this move.  The administration is requiring employees to uproot their families and move by September 30th even though they haven’t secured a permanent office space.”  She says if the plan is not stopped, farmers and rural communities will be the most affected in the long run.

Deputy undersecretary for research, education, and economics Scott Hutchins with USDA says the move will provide costs savings, attract top ag talent and put the agencies in closer proximity to constituents. “I assure you that we will seek more opportunity to expand the reach and the influences of ERS through the use of considerable cost savings from this move—that is our goal.”

Less than 40 percent of employees have committed to moving with the agency.

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