Dear Chair Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, Chair Boozman, and Ranking Member
Klobuchar,
The undersigned organizations, representing farmers, ranchers, agricultural scientists,
land-grant universities, commodity groups, agribusinesses, and food producers across
the country, write to express our concerns about actions taken within the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area
over the past year. We strongly support the goals of strengthening American agricultural
competitiveness, lowering food and production costs for farmers and consumers, and
securing our nation’s food supply against both natural threats and foreign adversaries. It
is precisely because we share these goals that we must raise these concerns. The
disruptions detailed below directly undermine the agricultural research enterprise that
underpins American farmers’ productivity, profitability, and global leadership.