▶ 0:17:15>> it is my privilege to call this evening to order today we will consider the nominations of Mr. dudley hoskins to be under secretary of marketing and regulatory programs and Dr. scott hutchins to be under secretary for research, education, and economics. We welcome you to the committee and congratulate you on your nominations. Very importantly, thank you for your willingness to serve.
▶ 0:17:43Our farmers and ranchers continue to face challenges from high input costs, elevated interest rates, and uncertain trade environment, and an ineffective, very ineffective from sitting at. Farmers continue to struggle and are in desperate need of updated responsive risk management tools. Secretary rollins has led by example and has been a champion for agriculture. The challenges facing farm country highlight why it is so important she get her team in place.
▶ 0:18:15Today is another step towards making that happen. Starting with Mr. hoskins, the marketing and regulatory mission is one of the most diverse and far-reaching responsibilities of usda.
▶ 0:18:29From a beef grading to organic agriculture, from farm animal disease response to especially crop dust, this mission touches every farmer, every rancher, every marketer, every stakeholder in the agriculture value chain. This missionary house is one of -- this mission houses 2 key federal agencies.
▶ 0:18:57They do critical, often unnoticed work, and play a vital role in keeping our nations food system function. U.S. agriculture is facing threats from numerous pests and diseases for the all eyes are on mexico and the threat of -- the secretary's decision to close the border to live animal imports was not a light decision.
▶ 0:19:24Ensuring protocols in place and reopening the border will not be an easy task. This is why it is so important to get Mr. hoskins confirmed as soon as possible. Now to Dr. hutchins, the undersecretary for research and education and economics. He is charged with advancing scientific knowledge related to agriculture through research, extension, and education.
▶ 0:19:47This mission manages 4 key agencies, collects and disseminates critical data, and is the primarily between the federal government and the premier agriculture institutions, our land-grant universities. These serve to develop the next generation of agricultural workforce as well as conduct world-class research.
▶ 0:20:13This missionary also works to ensure that the timely research and outcomes and discoveries developed at our land-grant institutions and by the chief house research agency, the agricultural research service, actually make it to the farm. The cooperative extension service is a hallmark of U.S. agriculture, it is the bridge between innovation and the producer. I'm grateful that Mr. hoskins and Dr.
▶ 0:20:39Hutchins are nominated for such important roles at usda and I look forward to hearing their plans to serve american agriculture. I now turn to ranking member novichok for her opening statement.
▶ 0:20:51Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you very much, chair, and I welcome Mr. hoskins and Dr. hutchins. I would like to welcome Mr. hoskins's parents and his wife, jessica, back there, right, as well as Dr. hutchins's wife, janet. Thank you all for being here. As you mentioned, Mr.
▶ 0:21:14Sen. Klobuchar: Chairman, the nominees if confirmed will oversee all the functions of the usda that are very important to many people around this dais. You both have a strong record of experience within the department, and we look forward to today's discussion. I start with usda's marketing and regulatory programs. They have a vast reach.
▶ 0:21:41Sen. Klobuchar: The most pressing challenge in this mission area is protecting us and our industry and consumers from past diseases including avian flu, a new world screw worm, the animal and plant health inspection service is on the front lines of the fight with dedicated employees working day in and day out to protect domestic producers from threats. Mr.
▶ 0:22:04Sen. Klobuchar: Hoskins, as you and I discussed in our good and thorough meeting, I remain concerned over reporting of concerns of the veterinarians at usda. These veterinarians are the line of defense against animal diseases and I hope you address that once you get in there if you are confirmed. I will work to build up that workforce. Senator hyde-smith and I had of the veterinarians caucus, something people may not have known. There you go.
▶ 0:22:35Sen. Klobuchar: Additionally, usda's marketing and regulatory programs provide valuable support to our farmers through the ag marketing service from commodity procurement and proper block grants to federal grain inspections and the national organic program. Ams works to expand opportunities at home and abroad. Ams has taken steps to improve price transparency and stop bad actors with several interagency efforts.
▶ 0:23:05Sen. Klobuchar: In the face of consolidation across the ag industry, efforts to ensure fair rules of the road are more important than ever. We will consider the nomination of Dr. hutchins to be -- we have a town in minnesota called hutchinson, as senator smith will attest to -- Dr. hutchins to be under secretary of research, education, and economics, who has previous experience in the mission area as debbie undersecretary for .
▶ 0:23:35Sen. Klobuchar: As you and I discussed, I'm a strong supporter of ag research. It makes sense according to usda's own estimates. Every dollar invested in ag research yields $20 in economic return. I appreciated when the chairman came to minnesota and met with our leaders in ag research.
▶ 0:23:53Sen. Klobuchar: The all -- senator smith, senator boozman, and myself went to another place in north dakota at the invitation of senator hoeven to look at the research going on there. As you and I discussed, I was disappointed to see president trump's proposed over $600 million in cuts to the usda's national institute of food and ag in fiscal year 2026 budget.
▶ 0:24:23Sen. Klobuchar: I hope to work with my colleagues on this committee to ensure that the proposed cuts are rejected and we continue ag research going. We are at the cost of graded element with all the research that has been done as well as the potential of using ai if correctly used to do even better. Position agriculture and the like. Usda's research agencies are critically important to advancing scientific research in our land-grant universities in educating students to lead in the field and in the boardroom.
▶ 0:24:55Sen. Klobuchar: Our home state in minnesota is home to the university of minnesota, 41994 tribal colleges agencies within the mission areas are popular because of the high quality work conducted by dedicated public servants for you can have strong leadership, you have to have public servants doing the work.
▶ 0:25:19Sen. Klobuchar: I've discussed with both of you the importance of keeping the employees on, recruiting people immediately when positions come open, and I hope to hear from all of you about your plans in each of your mission areas. Thank you very much, and thank you for your willingness to serve.
▶ 0:25:35Chair Boozman: Thank you very much. It gives me great pleasure this month to introduce the president's nominee to serve as undersecretary of marketing and regulatory programs, Mr. dudley hoskins.
▶ 0:25:51Chair Boozman: Before I give him too much praise, as was mentioned, we want to welcome his family, who joined us here today, his wife jessica, his parents, woody and eugenia, and his brother houston. We are delighted that you could've joined as at today's hearing. Dudley is the first member of my committee staff to be nominated for position requiring senate confirmation.
▶ 0:26:19Chair Boozman: I'm so pleased he has agreed to serve the american people in israel and I-4 confidence that his concern -- people in this role and I have for confidence that his expertise and sense of humor will serve him well. During the first trump administration he served as chief advisor to secretary perdue and chief of staff of marketing and regulatory programs mission area.
▶ 0:26:42Chair Boozman: Stir worked for the national association of state parks and agriculture, the responsible industry for a sound environment, and the american horse council. He is a native of texas, and after completing his undergraduate degree at tulane university, earned his law degree from texas wesleyan university. Dudley is the right person -- not the right problem, but the right person -- [laughter] for this job.
▶ 0:27:09Chair Boozman: It is one of the most important mission areas at usda for some confidence in his abilities and judgment to make some recommendations that the secretary what the long-term be in the best interest of american agriculture. Our second nominees Dr. scott hutchins. Dr. hutchins is nominated to be undersecretary for research, education, and economics. Dr. hutchins observed during the last trump administration as deputy undersecretary for the same mission area.
▶ 0:27:40Chair Boozman: Dr. hutchins spent over 30 years with agro sciences and is an adjunct professor of entomology at university of nebraska-lincoln. He earned his phd from iowa state, a masters in entomology from mississippi state, and an undergraduate degree from auburn. You've been everyplace, this is great. Dr. hutchins's wife, janet, is with us today. So glad you are here. Thank you, Dr.
▶ 0:28:09Chair Boozman: Hutchins, for appearing before the committee. We appreciate the fact that you are willing to serve. I look forward to your testimony . So with that, let's administer the oath and begin with witness testimony. Each witness will have five minutes please stand and raise your right hand.
▶ 0:28:34Chair Boozman: Do you swear or affirm that the statement you are about to provide is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god? Do you agree that if confirmed, you will respond to requests to appear and testify to the duly constituted committee of the senate? Thank you. Now, Mr. hoskins, you are recognized for your opening statement.
▶ 0:29:07Mr. Hoskins: Chairman boozman, ranking member klobuchar, distant wish members of the committee, thank you for that -- distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear as president trump's nominee to serve as undersecretary for the west apartment of agriculture's marketing and regulatory programs. I want to thank president trump for nominating me to serve in this role, and I want to thank secretary rollins for her trust and confidence in supporting my nomination.
▶ 0:29:37Mr. Hoskins: I also want to thank the members of this committee, your respective staffs, and the nondesignated clerks jesse williams, siddique wally, and alecia mendez for an incredible honor and privilege to serve in support of this committee mission possible useful to regardless of whether or not I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, I will treasure the time, experiences, and relationships I've been blessed with throughout my tenure serving this committee.
▶ 0:30:08Mr. Hoskins: Finally, I want to thank my family for your often tested but never wavering love and support. I appreciate you, Mr. chairman, in recognizing my family, and you, ranking member klobuchar. I want to do the same, my parents, woody and jenny, my sister in louisiana with her family today, my brothers houston and borden, sister-in-law catherine, who are in attendance, and my wife, jessica, whose only real poor decision in life was agreeing to marry me.
▶ 0:30:39Mr. Hoskins: That aside, I did not grow up in agriculture. Through happenstance, dumb luck, and great fortune, I fell into it, and ultimately fell in love with it. After graduating law school, I came to D.C. with my dog huckleberry, a law license, and no malpractice insurance. Like most experiences in my life, I've been a recipient of goodwill I didn't earn and good luck I didn't deserve.
▶ 0:31:02Mr. Hoskins: The combination of those dynamics allowed me to work for the american horse council, the responsible industry for a sound environment, the national association of state department of agriculture, and before joining the committee, the opportunity and privilege to serve at usda under the first trumpet administration under that-secretary perdue in multiple capacities. One of which was in the mrp mission area for them-undersecretary.
▶ 0:31:31Mr. Hoskins: Those experiences exposed me to the countless challenges and inner workings of the animal and plant health inspection service and the agricultural marketing service, which in my very biased estimation are the two most critical, complex, and impactful agencies in forming the health and viability of U.S. agriculture.
▶ 0:31:51Mr. Hoskins: The people serving in the agencies are on the clock and other post 24-7 aa other post 24-7 as stewards and sentries, traveling across our rural communities to insured price transparency through market news reporting, conducting bird control at airports, ensuring the highest confidence in grading standards, reviewing and regulating
▶ 0:32:21Mr. Hoskins: Biotechnologies committee getting the impacts of feral hogs and -- mitigating the impact of feral hogs and inpatient species, and ensuring the integrity of countless marketing orders, just to name a few. In short, the career officials and subject matter experts tasked with this incredibly diverse missions that are the best in the world at what they do.
▶ 0:32:43Mr. Hoskins: If confirmed, I commit to following secretary rollins's leadership and working every day to support the missions and helping U.S. farmers, ranchers, and foresters produce the safest, most affordable, most abundant food and fiber in the world. To the members of the committee, I'm grateful for the time and opportunity to have met with many of you and your respective staffs before today's hearing.
▶ 0:33:11Mr. Hoskins: Those conversations were incredibly instructive in helping me better understand some of the challenges and opportunities impacting producers in your states and across the country. If confirmed, I will dedicate myself to delivering a transparent, predictable, and science-based regulatory structure to protect the health and viability of U.S.
▶ 0:33:33Mr. Hoskins: Agriculture, mitigate the impact of animal and plant pest and diseases, and facilitate the timely delivery of critical marketing programs consistent with the spirit and intent of the law. Finally, I want to know to my gratitude and appreciation to my co-nominee Dr. hutchins. Regardless of what becomes of my nomination, if he is confirmed the usd will be fortunate to have someone of his capabilities leading the mission area.
▶ 0:34:03Mr. Hoskins: I thank the committee for the opportunity to appear before you today, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have for me.
▶ 0:34:13Chair Boozman: Dr. hutchins.
▶ 0:34:17Dr. Hutchins: Good morning, chairman boozman, ranking member klobuchar, members of the committee. I am pleased to appear before you as president comes nominee for undersecretary for research, education, and economics for the department of agriculture could I would like to thank president trump for the opportunity and secretary moniz for her confidence and support.
▶ 0:34:40Dr. Hutchins: I'm a product,, as you have read of the land grant system, and I feel a great sense of pride and honor to be considered for this position. If confirmed, will to if confirmed, will certainly dedicate myself to fulfill the mission as outlined by congress. As you have recognized -- thank you for that -- I would like to introduce my wife, janet hutchins from alabama.
▶ 0:35:08Dr. Hutchins: We celebrate 45 years of marriage in exmouth and we have three wonderful adult children and seven awesome grandchildren, all ages 12 and under. No one could ask for a better lifelong partner and supportive family I want to thank my sisters in georgia my extended family and friends watching virtually for their love and support through this process.
▶ 0:35:28Dr. Hutchins: Throughout my career, I've dedicated my professional passion toward developing innovations in a novel technologies in support of agricultural reduction, working every day to provide tools and allow farmers to succeed in their businesses. For example, I was the global product development manager for U.S. epa award winner and a nationally derived insect management product that is one of the most widely used insect management tools in what a culture, both conventional and organic agriculture, within the united states and globally.
▶ 0:36:01Dr. Hutchins: The history of agricultural productivity in the united states has been unlike any industry. Production has increased over 400% in the last century while using the same level of inputs, albeit different inputs, and with all that less land. That is clearly the definition of sustainability. But often overlooked is the fact that the average lifespan of americans has gone from 49 years of age to over 80 years of age and that same period. Modern U.S. agriculture powered by U.S.
▶ 0:36:29Dr. Hutchins: Farmers and ranchers is the enabling reason we have a safe, abundant, and reliable food system. My professional journey as a scientist began at arbor university as an undergraduate student in the late 1970's, where I benefited from excellent teachers and mentors in agricultural entomology and became passionate about helping growers manage devastating pest problems. I elected to pursue graduate studies at mississippi state university and iowa state university, where I became a student of integrated pest management.
▶ 0:36:58Dr. Hutchins: I've been fortunate to work closely with numerous university teams and administrators throughout my career along with scientific societies to create an advanced public-private partnerships. After a nearly 32-year career in the private sector, I was honored to serve as undersecretary under the leadership of secretary perdue, where ike's convinced firsthand the talent and commitment of our federal agencies and economics.
▶ 0:37:23Dr. Hutchins: If confirmed, I look forward to continuing to support their critical mission with secretary rollins. The land-grant mission is timeless, and not only research, but research made relevant through education and attention. I was honored to have met in person the nobel laureate Dr.
▶ 0:37:41Dr. Hutchins: Norman bohr norman boborlaug who inspired all of us to pursue internet innovation in agriculture to ensure security for all --pursue in earnest innovation in agriculture to ensure security for all. If confirmed, I will fulfill these responsibility is to the best of my ability through deliberate yet decisive recommendation to the secretary, the president, and congress on key scientific issues and opportunities facing U.S. agriculture.
▶ 0:38:11Dr. Hutchins: Moreover, if confirmed, I commit to actively leading our team to national priorities in line with the goals and objectives of the secretary and congress with a renewed forecast on impact for discovery goals. I have truly value teamwork, and I know Mr. hoskins well from our previous time at usda. He is the absolute best, as you already know. If we are confirmed together, it will be an honor to work side-by-side with him and the secretary's faulty to collectively support U.S. agriculture.
▶ 0:38:40Dr. Hutchins: Chairman boozman, ranking member klobuchar, members of the committee, I'm truly honored to have been nominated for this critical role, and if confirmed, I pledged to do all I can each and everyday to improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, and all americans through the work of the research education and economics agencies. Thank you so much for the provision of appearing before the committee, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have.
▶ 0:39:06Chair Boozman: Well, thank you both for your testimony. We will begin with one round of questions for the each member will have five minutes. Before I ask my questions, I would like to add letters of support from various groups for Mr. hoskins and Dr. hutchins for their nomination into the record. Without objection, so ordered. Mr. hoskins usda has been challenged by avian flu for quite some time now.
▶ 0:39:36Chair Boozman: Recent developments of screw worm are moving closer to the southern border, more than troubling. You have had experience in handling animal disease that's in your prior roles -- disease threats in your prior roles. If confirmed, how will you address the current threats facing U.S. agriculture and ensure usda stays ready to meet new challenges?
▶ 0:40:01Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, Mr. chairman, and thank you for the time you extended to me in your office before today's hearing. I know you raised this issue and a multiple of other priorities for you and producers in arkansas.
▶ 0:40:17Mr. Hoskins: When it comes to screw worm or whatever is on deck next, african swine fever, the disease of the date, in my estimation all of those things require all hands on deck. There is a federal component and equity that veterinary services plays a huge instrumental role in a driving.
▶ 0:40:43Mr. Hoskins: There is the relationships and partners with states and health officials and impacted producers and industry stakeholders. If I were confirmed, I would do everything in my power to support secretary rollins, implement her five-pronged approach to address high path ai, better understand and assess the risks of screwworm from mexico come and work to understand what if anything veterinary services and the team needed or wanted in support for
▶ 0:41:14Mr. Hoskins: Permission to better execute their mandate to protect U.S. agriculture.
▶ 0:41:17Chair Boozman: Very good. Dr. hutchins, thank you for being with me a couple weeks ago, which I really enjoyed. I appreciate the discussion we had about the importance of the national agricultural center. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you to see that the center remains successful and able to continue serving american agriculture. The partnership between usda and our nation universities is so important. This distinguishes U.S.
▶ 0:41:48Chair Boozman: Agricultural research from the rest of the world. It is a partnership between federal government, the states, and local decision-makers. We don't have a system where washington, D.C., tells universities what to research and states must have skin in the game. In the end, farmers, ranchers, and consumers ultimately benefit. You mentioned in your testimony the tremendous strides agriculture has made compared to almost anybody.
▶ 0:42:16Chair Boozman: If you are confirmed, what will you do to continue to lead this partnership with our nations agriculture universities, which you are, as you mentioned, so much a product of?
▶ 0:42:30Dr. Hutchins: Thank you, senator. I, too, very much enjoyed our conversation the other week. As I've indicated and hopefully is clear from my, just, demeanor, I'm a huge, passionate fan of land-grant institutions. The whole model has been a game changer and it has enabled the united states to make the difference. What would I be able to do?
▶ 0:42:55Dr. Hutchins: What I hope to be able to do, sir, is develop a set of national priorities and focus on discovery goals so we can channel the tremendous talents of these institutions in partnership with the federal agencies towards solving some of the bigger issues and challenges, some of which would be in partnership of course with Mr.
▶ 0:43:12Dr. Hutchins: Hoskins's organization if he is confirmed in order to address challenges but I'm also very positive on the possibility of developing new opportunities, new opportunities for markets for agricultural products, new opportunities for technology advancements, and to put those in place first so the united states agricultural system is always leading the world as early adopters of innovation and staying ahead of the curve for
▶ 0:43:42Dr. Hutchins: Productivity, profitability, and relevance.
▶ 0:43:44Chair Boozman: Very good. Mr. hoskins, the animal plant health inspection service is the gold standard for certifying plant and animal health safety. We have seen many countries put up unscientific trade barriers. Aphis has been called in to defend the integrity of our ag products.
▶ 0:44:11Chair Boozman: One focus of this administration is to crack down on these unfair barriers which are in many ways even worse than the tariff barriers. How do you view the role of aphis in ensuring our producers can compete on a level playing field?
▶ 0:44:25Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, Mr. chairman. In my estimation, the aphis family both on the ppq side and veterinary services side, talking about nontariff trade irritants, the aphis family plays an essential in prosecuting the science of those barriers and hopefully persevering with their colleagues and counterparts
▶ 0:44:55Mr. Hoskins: Around the world to help them understand where there is a and where there is not. If I were confirmed, I would do everything in my power to give the aphis subject matter experts the permission and support they needed to fully prosecute those non-tariff issues on a scientific basis and support their outcomes.
▶ 0:45:15Chair Boozman: Very good. Senator klobuchar?
▶ 0:45:18Sen. Klobuchar: Very good. Thank you. I will start with you, Mr. hoskins. As you and I talked over the last three years in the U.S. avian flu, spread from wild birds to poultry operations and most recently to dairy cattle. Mr.
▶ 0:45:35Sen. Klobuchar: Hoskins, as we enter the third year of this most recent outbreak, what are your priorities on this virus, and how will you ensure the response includes all impacted industry groups, including turkeys and dairy cattle?
▶ 0:45:54Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, ranking member klobuchar, and thank you for the time you extended to me in your office wasn't I know you raised this issue and a number of others. To visit with you in your office was much more pleasant than my staff interview with your committee staff.
▶ 0:46:10Mr. Hoskins: [laughter] but I would just say when it comes to hi pat ai and the diversity of production systems that diseases impacted, eggs, broilers, turkeys, and the dairy side of the equation, the all-hands approach, five-pronged approach that secretary rollins rolled out his to be the absolutely the right -- to me is absolutely the right direction to get us out of this quagmire with hi pat ai.
▶ 0:46:42Mr. Hoskins: One component of that could be vaccine development and deployment. What I am committed to you and if confirmed what I would commit to this committee is that if there were a vaccine consideration to be utilized, that would be science-based, based on the efficacy of that vaccine, something the entire stakeholder community would be consulted on because regardless of one production system you may have vaccinated for, it could
▶ 0:47:14Mr. Hoskins: Have implications for other production systems on a domestic level and international market access level. I would commit to giving the secretary all the information and tools she needed to make the most informed decision possible.
▶ 0:47:26Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you very much. Dr. hutchins, if confirmed, what role do you see for research education in economics in your mission area, going into the response to avian flu?
▶ 0:47:41Dr. Hutchins: Thank you, senator, and thank you as well for the time yesterday. I enjoyed that very much, and I also enjoyed at the time with your staff.
▶ 0:47:50Sen. Klobuchar: Well, thank you. [laughter] that will be duly noted. Mr. hoskins. Ok.
▶ 0:48:00Dr. Hutchins: So the research and education, economics organization has a phenomenal capability and capacity to deal with these types of scenarios with the facility in kansas as well as the veterinary laboratories and other places. The science and the capabilities there are unmatched in the world. One other thing that is unmatched as the partnership that these agencies have with the agencies of mre. What can we do to advance it?
▶ 0:48:32Dr. Hutchins: We can continually look at the most promising signs development, we can utilize the new tools and technologies in ai to identify ways to not just mitigate, to prevent these kinds of scenarios. And in some ways it is related to the context of invasive species, invasive organisms. We have the capability to work hand-in-hand to develop the best methods to eliminate those.
▶ 0:48:55Sen. Klobuchar: Thanks. Very good. Thank you. Agri-surgeon general -- I voice my concern -- ag research in general, I voice my concerns about the proposed budget.
▶ 0:49:08Dr. Hutchins: I've always been a proponent of ag research but at a higher level I'm an advocate of the outcomes that ag research leads to -- the results, the solutions, the opportunities. It is the prerogative of congress to provide the funding, but what I can commit to you, senator, whatever funding is provided, we will make the absolute best use to benefit farmers and ranchers and consumers. That would be my firm commitment to you and this committee.
▶ 0:49:34Sen. Klobuchar: Administration's program for career employees resulted in the loss of 1600 people from mission area with research, including over 1200 staff from the ag research service, an 18% loss of total workforce when we are looking at ag scientists. Simply put, without staff, we know this research, no matter what ai does, is not going to happen.
▶ 0:50:05Sen. Klobuchar: How are you going to make sure that this loss of expertise won't affect the area and how will you improve things?
▶ 0:50:11Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for that question. For sure what we will need to do is look at the resources that are provided, the status of the situation we have in each of the agencies, and as with any organization, look to ensure that we are focused on the most important outcomes in the most important projects and programs that benefit farmers, ranchers, the american public, and target the resources we do have toward that and ensure that we felt those key positions that are vacant that will allow us to succeed in that way.
▶ 0:50:38Sen. Klobuchar: Thanks. Last question, Mr. hoskins, the national animal health lab network office as it staff -- that is about testing, quality assurance, and the vet services office is set to lose 23% of its workforce. Talk about how you will ensure that aphis continues to protect our domestic ag from threats and is not undermined by the staff or funding cuts.
▶ 0:51:06Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, ranking member klobuchar. To your point, the national animal health laboratory network is a critical asset to the federal government when it comes to early detection, surveillance of animal diseases. I think there is 62 facilities around 42 states within the network.
▶ 0:51:27Mr. Hoskins: I can't sit here today and speak to -- intelligently to the staffing assessment, having not been at the department and privy to those briefings. What I can point to is the secretary's comments publicly that she stated aphis will have the adequate workforce needed to address their nation and their mandate, which, priority one is protecting the health and viability of U.S. agriculture .
▶ 0:51:55Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you.
▶ 0:51:57Chair Boozman: Senator hyde-smith.
▶ 0:52:01Sen. Hyde-Smith: Thank you, chairman, thank you, ranking member. Thank you to both of you and thank you to families and I want to welcome to mississippi legislators here. Welcome. Thank you for attending this hearing. As has been discussed many times, Mr.
▶ 0:52:25Sen. Hyde-Smith: Hoskins, our livestock and poultry industries rely heavily on how usda acts to protect our nations from foreign animal diseases. We are currently experiencing a year-long outbreak of high path avian influenza that is caused poultry and livestock producers tens of millions of dollars in lost flux, bio security expenses, and disruption to domestic and international markets.
▶ 0:52:52Sen. Hyde-Smith: You and I also recently discussed the outbreak of the screwworm in mexico that had the potential to be very destructive in the U.S. livestock industry if we don't act now. Diseases like african swine fever and foot disease are always too close for comfort -- foot in are always to quote for comfort -- and foot in mouth disease are always too close for comfort.
▶ 0:53:20Sen. Hyde-Smith: I've supported efforts to help our producers prepare and respond to animal disease outbreaks. I applaud secretary rollins and the trump administration for how they've handled these challenges already in the administration. How do you plan to build on this work to ensure usda is using its disease response and resources to act quickly and effectivelyi to protect american agriculture from these threats?
▶ 0:53:46Sen. Hyde-Smith: If confirmed, how can we support your work into tackling these challenges as a body.
▶ 0:53:52Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question, senator, and for the time you allotted me in your office before today's hearing. I know you raised this issue and a multitude of others. I guess what I think about the infrastructure that exists at aphis to address animal diseases, I think first and foremost to the 2018 farm bill can wear this committee and members of this committee helped lead the effort to get the three
▶ 0:54:24Mr. Hoskins: Legged stool codified into law, which included the non-lab network, disease prevention response program, and the vaccine and veterinary countermeasures bank. To me that is a critical toolbox to aphis in addressing and working with state partners in addressing animal disease issues .
▶ 0:54:46Mr. Hoskins: If I were confirmed, I would look to double down and help implement and expedite secretary rollins's five-point plan on high path ai. I want a clear eyed assessment of what is working well and what is not with the challenges with the bio security pieces. How can we best plug-and-play the agencies resources to help producers meet the mandate?
▶ 0:55:09Mr. Hoskins: With screwworm, that is a devastating, scary disease parasite and what it does to the host is almost 100% fatal without detection and intervention. In texas I think the department eradicated screwworm in the 1960's. Secretary rollins clearly took decisive action to prevent potential incursion of screwworm.
▶ 0:55:36Mr. Hoskins: I will do everything I can to support that work both with aphis and the states and the stakeholder industry to ensure we have the all hands on deck approach we need.
▶ 0:55:45Sen. Hyde-Smith: Thank you very much. Dr. hutchins, mississippi is a leader in agricultural research, and very proud of the work that we have done across the state, especially in one of your alma maters, mississippi state university.
▶ 0:56:01Sen. Hyde-Smith: As you know, these research initiatives support american farmers and ranchers in so many ways, including developing and improving crop genetics, advancing animal health capabilities, creating new tools to fight diseases and pests that adversely affect production agriculture.
▶ 0:56:22Sen. Hyde-Smith: In my lifetime I've seen yields increase over 400% at times because of these advancements, which must continue if we are going to provide a safe, abundant, affordable food supply. How will you work to strengthen partnerships with our land-grant universities and pave the way for new scientific advancements in american agriculture through the national institute of food and agriculture and the agricultural research service?
▶ 0:56:51Dr. Hutchins: Senator, thank you for the question, thank you for the time. So pleased to be here and address that. As I've indicated previously, the land-grant institutions are on the front lines of many of these issues. They have the talent, they have the ability to educate, and it mississippi state, not so much of the screwworm, but they had a similar situation with the bull weevil.
▶ 0:57:20Dr. Hutchins: The bull weevil lab with mississippi state university developed techniques to eradicate that and push it back down into south america. We will definitely put the land-grant institutions at the tip of the spear to address these issues.
▶ 0:57:37Sen. Hyde-Smith: Thank you very much.
▶ 0:57:39Chair Boozman: Senator smith.
▶ 0:57:42Sen. Smith: Thank, chair boozman and ranking member, and welcome both of you to the committee Dr. hutchins, thank you for the meeting yesterday. I proceeded the conversation. I wanted to follow-up up on the discussion. I believe both you and I agree that in the face of the very challenging farm economy and in a world where many producers are not breaking even, I'm going to focus on research and innovation is really crucial.
▶ 0:58:11Sen. Smith: As you know, because I know you visited them, we have 2 agricultural research service labs in minnesota that are very important to minnesota producers. They rely on them, they are doing different kinds of work, different kinds of research. My question to you is what commitments can you make to me or the committee that those two facilities will remain open and will not suffer further staff reduction as we are seeing in different parts of the usda?
▶ 0:58:42Dr. Hutchins: Thank you, senator smith, for that question, and thank you for the time as well. What's clear with what's happening is we will need to step back and look at each of these facilities -- I believe ars has over 90 facilities. Each of them were developed with an effective mission focus. Some of those missions have been continued to add a lot of value.
▶ 0:59:09Dr. Hutchins: Others perhaps have migrated to other areas of focus such as the boll weevil lab I just mentioned. What I can commit to you, senator, is I will personally do an objective assessment of these facilities, understand the value proposition they are providing do not just minnesota farmers, but to farmers more broadly.
▶ 0:59:31Dr. Hutchins: And to put together proposals and advocates for how we maintain the capability to provide the solutions, provide the innovations, and provide leading-edge approaches to all aspects of agricultural production.
▶ 0:59:45Sen. Smith: I appreciate your -- I appreciate that. I don't hear quite what I'm looking for, but I would urge you as you go forward realizing the scope of control you have that as you are making those decisions and doing that assessment that you are talking directly with farmers and ranchers and producers who rely on what those research facilities are providing so that you have a good view of what is to be lost in what is to be gained if they stay there as a resource for producers.
▶ 1:00:15Dr. Hutchins: Yes, ma'am. They are there for those stakeholders and I want to understand and appreciate the challenges they are facing and how we can assist.
▶ 1:00:24Sen. Smith: Thank you very much. I want to follow up on another thing we talked about yesterday. As farmers and producers are dealing with an increasing number of extreme weather events, heat, flooding, you name it, we had a discussion about the importance of making sure that we are doing everything we can to help producers adapt. I know this is something you spent a lot of time on in your career.
▶ 1:00:51Sen. Smith: For example, we talked about the impact of different bugs and invasive species that can shift and move as the climate changes. Could you just talk a bit about that and how you would orient usda research to ensure that producers have the opportunity to do the long-term adaptation that is going to be required?
▶ 1:01:12Dr. Hutchins: Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question. Absolutely, I feel strongly that the science and technology that we have in hand and that continues to develop -- I'm talking about gene technologies, I'm talking about abilities to make the plant resistant to drought and heat, and insects -- so there's all kinds of technologies that are developing in the digital world as well as in the genetic world full of
▶ 1:01:43Dr. Hutchins: University of minnesota is a leading breeding teaching and learning institution that I have every confidence will be able to address these if we are permitted to develop the kind of tools and put them in practice the way we hope we can. There are not any challenges in front of us that we cannot address in an effective way if we are able to utilize the science and technology that we can see in front of us.
▶ 1:02:06Sen. Smith: Great. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:02:10Chair Boozman: Let me give a shout-out to mike mccormick, president of mississippi farm bureau. We do appreciate working with you and all that you represent in mississippi, the great job that he will do. Roger, you ready? I'm sorry, senator marshall.
▶ 1:02:28Sen. Marshall: Welcome to both of our nominees, and congratulations. We look forward to supporting your nominations. My first question is for Mr. hoskins. Part of your role as marketing and regulatory programs. Talk a little bit about pesticides and fertilizers and your interaction with epa and hhs now as well. Again, I will start by sharing I'm so proud of what we have gotten agricultural.
▶ 1:02:57Sen. Marshall: We are growing more with less, we are using a fraction of the pesticides and fertilizers that we you this committee is doing everything we can to have a decreased amounts of those reach the waters as well. What will your role be in interacting with the other departments?
▶ 1:03:14Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, senator, and for the time you extended to me in your office last week. I know you raised this issue and a number of other priorities on behalf of kansas agriculture producers. I would say when I think about that question, I'm thinking about it through the lens of aphis, ams mandate that congress has given it.
▶ 1:03:38Mr. Hoskins: And I think regardless of whether it's a fertilizer, an input, crop protection tool, biotechnology innovation, all of those things are so critical to the producers, could the producers, co to produce the most abundant and affordable and safest food supply in the world. As a federal government, my hope would be we would facilitate that innovation in technology and not frustrate it.
▶ 1:04:08Mr. Hoskins: If I were confirmed, I would commit to you to stand behind the science and ensure the agency actions, whether it is registrations or reviews or approval, are consistent both on a technical level, the most sound science we have in front of us come and consistent with the mandate that congress has given the agencies to operate under.
▶ 1:04:30Sen. Marshall: Thank you. Dr. hutchins, I'll go to you next. We want to talk about the national agriculture by a facility -- agriculture by defense facility. Have you had a chance to go there yet?
▶ 1:04:47Dr. Hutchins: I did when it was under been under b construction.
▶ 1:04:52Sen. Marshall: Great, you are familiar with what it means, but it is still not open. It is not the construction part. The construction was on-time, on budget. Do you have any idea -- I know you are not confirmed yet -- do you have any idea why he does not been opened yet? What is your level of commitment to make that happen?
▶ 1:05:11Dr. Hutchins: Senator, I do not. I literally have not had any access to that or any information since 2021 my commitment. To you is if I'm confirmed, I will look into that and understand the details and problem solve from that point.
▶ 1:05:29Sen. Marshall: It is my understanding that they are dragging their feet because the plum island facility is dragging its feet to get shut down. But the american taxpayers have invested significant money. It is the safest place in the world to do this type of research. That is where it needs to be done. Would you agree?
▶ 1:05:47Dr. Hutchins: That is the premise behind the whole facility when we signed the memorandum of agreement and still my working premise, the best world-class facility and that is where the work should be conducted.
▶ 1:05:58Sen. Marshall: I think in your previous tenure at usda you were involved in the relocation of ers to kansas city, the greater kansas city metro area. Any idea, has that been a success? Is it working well? To us it is important to get people close to the producers as possible.
▶ 1:06:21Sen. Marshall: This is one of the many opportunities for people to get out of the swamp here and out into the hinterlands and flyover state and see what is happening in agriculture.
▶ 1:06:29Dr. Hutchins: Senator, I was involved in that. At secretary perdue's direction, we did develop that. Prior to my departure we did open the facility in kansas city . You might also recall that that was right in the middle of covid scenarios as well. I do not know at present what the current status is of the building, the context, and the rest of it.
▶ 1:06:57Dr. Hutchins: But I was personally on site today that it opened, and I met individually with every single individual that was there. Every single one of them that was there was delighted to be in the kansas city region, and their equipment at the time -- and the recruitment at the time was very successful. I will commit to you to understand what the current status is and to make sure that the original promise is are fulfilled that secretary perdue outlined.
▶ 1:07:24Sen. Marshall: Well, great. After you are confirmed, if possible if you could follow up with me and that is know-how how that is going and whatever we can do to support future endeavors as well. Thank you so much.
▶ 1:07:37Chair Boozman: Senator lujan.
▶ 1:07:41Sen. Lujan: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Appreciate you being here as well for the Mr. hoskins, I would like to start with a question directed to you. New mexico has two ports of entry that serve as major entry point for livestock imports. Both ports of entry were closed to livestock imports in november 2024 and earlier this month to prevent the spread of the new world screwworm.
▶ 1:08:10Sen. Lujan: While one port of entry reopen for livestock port for livestock p imports in february 2025 before being closed again this month, the columbus port of entry remained closed to livestock during this time. My understanding based on communication with usda is that due to the trump administration's reduction in force efforts, there were not enough animal health technicians in columbus, new mexico, for that port of entry to reopen in february. My question, Mr.
▶ 1:08:36Sen. Lujan: Hoskins, yes or no if confirmed will you commit to ensuring there are adequate inspector stations at the columbus port of entry, specifically animal health, to reopen that port to livestock crossings when it is safe to do so?
▶ 1:08:52Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, senator, and the opportunity to visit with your before today's hearing f I know you are looking for a yes or no answer. I guess I would say, not to be evasive, not being at the department and not brief on staffing decisions and assessment and needs, what I can commit to is just that if confirmed, I would ensure aphis met its congressional mandate to protect U.S.
▶ 1:09:18Mr. Hoskins: Agriculture from animal, plant diseases and I would implement at secretary rollins's direction where she stated publicly that aphis would have adequate resources to meet its mandate.
▶ 1:09:34Sen. Lujan: Do you believe that animal health technicians are important in the mission of usda?
▶ 1:09:39Mr. Hoskins: Yes, senator, I do.
▶ 1:09:43Sen. Lujan: I appreciate that. I hope that is expected to the secretary and administration. There aren't enough inspectors. The more people that are going to get fired, the less that are going to be available, that is going to hurt efforts all around the south, and it shouldn't just be texas that gets attention.
▶ 1:10:05Sen. Lujan: If you go down and you look at where the animals are crossing, more people cross into texas through those ports of entry, more commerce moves into the smaller ports, namely agriculture, in new mexico. If we look at this from a united states perspective, I hope it gets that kind of attention. I'm also very concerned that the loss of staff at usda resulting from the trump administration efforts have undermined the agency's ability to turn people back home.
▶ 1:10:33Sen. Lujan: I get calls from people in other parts of the drive met along the way that our concern some of these initial reports. Many usda staff who have dedicated their careers to serving farm country and rural america have a very specific knowledge base and specialties that make a difference in people's lives.
▶ 1:10:51Sen. Lujan: Several media outlets reported that days after the administration's deferred resignation offer went into effect, the animal and plant health inspection service scent and people to remaining employees offering "lateral transfer opportunities" to fill 73 open positions that are especially critical to fill as soon as possible. Mr. hoskins, you spent a significant portion of your career working at usda, first as chief of staff in marketing and regulatory programs and later as a senior advisor to secretary perdue.
▶ 1:11:22Sen. Lujan: Do you agree that career staff play a critical role in maintaining operations at the agency?
▶ 1:11:27Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question, senator. Yes, in my extremes working with aphis -- in my experience working with aphis and ams, experts are absolutely indispensable.
▶ 1:11:40Sen. Lujan: I appreciate you saying that, and that is the case. I don't know where a lot of folks back home would be without that support. And I hope that adequate levels of support will exist for farmers and ranchers across the country. You are one of the best that knows this, you have done it, you have seen it. I hope your voice will be listened to in this important position.
▶ 1:12:04Sen. Lujan: In recent years new mexico has experienced an unprecedented number of extreme weather event including wildfires, severe storms, and flooding. In western states like new mexico it is getting more and more common. It is critical for our food supply and the livelihood of performers and producers that the federal government invest in adapting production techniques to respond to extreme weather. Dr. hutchins, if confirmed, how would you ensure that usda response to changing weather patterns that are resulting in more extreme weather?
▶ 1:12:31Dr. Hutchins: Thank you, senator, for the question. The usda, particularly with cops who are familiar with in your state, as got tremendous breeding capabilities to build in some of these areas of tolerance, whether it is heat or drought or what have you. When I was working with usda previously, I sat down with leaders and asked them to incorporate in their goals the things that are most important for particular crops and regions.
▶ 1:13:01Dr. Hutchins: I would make sure that our crops and animals are able to be resilient with the various year-to-year weather patterns.
▶ 1:13:08Sen. Lujan: Just to be clear, this is an area you will prioritize and continue to do the good work you are going in the past?
▶ 1:13:14Dr. Hutchins: Yes, surface
▶ 1:13:19Dr. Hutchins: Yes, sursir.
▶ 1:13:19Sen. Lujan: Appreciate that.
▶ 1:13:22Chair Boozman: Senator hoeven.
▶ 1:13:24Sen. Hoeven: Starting with you, Mr. hoskins, if confirmed will you fully enforce the packers and stockyards act?
▶ 1:13:33Mr. Hoskins: Thank you, senator, for the time you and your staff afforded me before today's hearing. If confirmed, I would work with the ams fair trade practices program and the career officials implementing the packers and stockyards act to ensure it was implemented consistent with the law.
▶ 1:13:54Sen. Hoeven: The industry has always wanted more price discovery, more transparency, and more competition. What are your thoughts on accomplishing that?
▶ 1:14:08Mr. Hoskins: Senator, I would note a couple different things. One, your leadership and I'm with the -- and other members of the committee in facilitating the cattle contract library and other resources that ams has adopted over the recent years to bring more transparency into some of the back room -- back operation side of the workstream from producers to feeders and packers.
▶ 1:14:37Mr. Hoskins: Note congress in the 1921 packaging stockyards act stated very clearly the agency shall ensure fair competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in livestock, beef, and poultry. Since that time there been a lot of different rulemakings. A lot of litigation across different circuit courts.
▶ 1:15:07Mr. Hoskins: My interpretation of some of those terms is largely immaterial. If confirmed it would be my role to implement the programconsiste congressional in the way courts have informed and decided what those terms mean. I would also note a close family friend and mentor who passed away about a year ago, a cattleman in south texas, a devout catholic.
▶ 1:15:37Mr. Hoskins: He said god may have created the earth in less than a week but he still has not figured out cattle markets.
▶ 1:15:44Sen. Hoeven: Your background in an expertise in this area shows you are right. What do you see in terms of expanding our ability overseas in terms of marketing livestock?
▶ 1:16:00Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question. I think when you're talking about sanitary nontariff trade irritants plays and essential role in prosecuting market access at a technical level and regardless of me or whoever else would be in that role, as long as the subject matter experts are the ones driving those technical conversations and effectively being on pie --
▶ 1:16:32Mr. Hoskins: Being umpires and their political leadership stands behind the science I think we are set up for success. If we step back from that mandate we are facing a lot of challenges.
▶ 1:16:44Sen. Hoeven: Right on and we have to be firm and aggressive. We cannot allow barriers to prevent us from accessing markets. By the same token we need to protect our market. Everybody wants to be in our market. If there are issues with some of those issues from south america or anywhere else where there china put livestock in our market weed to stand firm on both ways. You would agree with that?
▶ 1:17:14Mr. Hoskins: Yes I would.
▶ 1:17:16Sen. Hoeven: Mr. hutchins, I would like to get you to north dakota to see grant farm and also our policy center at north dakota state university. Are you willing to do that?
▶ 1:17:30Dr. Hutchins: Very much so. I know the secretary has already been there in the comments I read she wrote was she was very impressed.
▶ 1:17:38Sen. Hoeven: Sounds like you will be an excellent undersecretary for research, education, and economics based on that answer. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:17:49Chair Boozman: At this point we will turn to senator fetterman.
▶ 1:17:53Sen. Fetterman: Thank you. Good morning, gentlemen. I know this is not your purview and I'm not going to go on and going on a rant but this is the last opportunity I would have to say as a member of this committee that I've been very troubled that it is very clear they are going to try to cut snap.
▶ 1:18:18Sen. Fetterman: For me it has been a passion of mine and one of the reasons I was so excited to be on this committee. Now that vote is coming so this is my last opportunity to say -- in a minority situation we may not have the vote to prevent those things but that does not mean I can ever support these cuts. Mr.
▶ 1:18:39Sen. Fetterman: Hoskins, the local food purchase agreement cooperative program was successfully doing all of those things to create and promote small local food system viability.
▶ 1:18:56Sen. Fetterman: According to farmers and the organizations, including 31 in pa, lfpa generated $747 million in economic opportunity in oral community and I would ask the chair with unanimous consent there b entered into the record.
▶ 1:19:22Sen. Fetterman: -- that their letter be entered into the record. You believe the usda has authority to promote market access for small farms?
▶ 1:19:32Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question and I appreciated the time in conversation with your staff in your office the other week. Your staff raised this issue and a number of priorities you are focused on.
▶ 1:19:52Mr. Hoskins: I do think ams through congressional codification and different laws this committee and the congress has passed, including the farm bill has a number of programs and authorities to facilitate local food purchasing and promotion.
▶ 1:20:10Sen. Fetterman: I would also like to be clear. I voted for secretary rollins. For me agriculture -- read, blue, conservative, liberal, everybody eats and we can all count on our culture. It is about feeding people and supporting farming. That is the largest industry in my state.
▶ 1:20:38Sen. Fetterman: You agree the beneficial for states like mine to be able to directly address their local food systems?
▶ 1:20:48Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question. My awareness on some of the authorities and programs under the agricultural marketing service is this committee and congress has given that agency purview and mandate to facilitate some of those programs and purchases and facilitate the resiliency of the local food system.
▶ 1:21:19Mr. Hoskins: I am not trying to be evasive. If I were confirmed I would commit to ensuring ams met its congressional mandate under those programs. >> next up, senator moran.
▶ 1:21:45Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you both -- Sen. moran: thank you both for being here. I will plow similar ground my colleague from kansas and I want to highlight this issue.
▶ 1:22:03Sen. Klobuchar: I had conversations with secretary rollins a couple of times about this topic and mbath is a $1.2 million american investment in the safety of our food supply and it is not fully operational. The handoff from the department of homeland security occurred a significant period of time ago. The former secretary of agriculture was there to help cut the ribbon and yet we are still not fully operational.
▶ 1:22:33Sen. Klobuchar: I am anxious to get your attention if you're confirmed to make certain the department of agriculture -- that the usda takes the necessary steps to get this fully commissioned and operational. I would join senator hoeven and telling you your great nominee if you will commit to coming with me to see and take a leadership at the department of agriculture.
▶ 1:23:05Sen. Klobuchar: Dr. hutchins?
▶ 1:23:06Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for the question. You have that commitment. When I was in usda it was a formative stage of that. I need to learn and understand what we are right now. That will be my commitment to you.
▶ 1:23:26Sen. Moran: From this interested observer it does not feel like we are moving fast enough to solve what challenges there are. Research mentioned in your testimony is not taking place regarding fmd and until that happens there are lots of challenges that need nbaf fully operational. You are also asked about the relocation of ers.
▶ 1:23:56Sen. Moran: My understanding is secretary will sack confirmed the decision made by the last trump administration, the previous trump administration and allowed those jobs to be transferred to kansas city. What did not take place was having employees come to work. In some ways the transfer was a paper transfer in which people continue to live and work in washington, D.C.
▶ 1:24:25Sen. Moran: Remotely but it appeared to be the jobs and the opportunities for people to locate in the middle of the country and perhaps have young farm sons and daughters engaged in agriculture and strengthen the tide between production agriculture and research was not yet completed.
▶ 1:24:44Sen. Moran: I ask your commitment -- you said this earlier but I want to reiterate the importance of making sure what was promised what was believed was happening actually happens and includes people working from the location of the offices in kansas city.
▶ 1:24:58Dr. Hutchins: You have my commitment. I believe there been executive orders with regards to office attendance and we will ensure those are followed at the direction of the president.
▶ 1:25:09Sen. Moran: I fully support the idea that people who work in government ought to be at work and it is particularly helpful in agriculture and in research where the cooperation and personal contact is important. I've had these conversations with secretary rollins and others. That local contact and capability is significant.
▶ 1:25:40Sen. Moran: Let me ask Dr. hutchins about data reporting. The cattle industry plays a significant role in our state. We have nearly 6 million head of cattle. We have had significant drought conditions there is financial stresses impacting ranchers. It impacted them in a way to help determine the size of their herd.
▶ 1:26:08Sen. Moran: Many of those constituents rely on the july cattle report as well as the county estimates for crops and livestock to make midyear assessments to determine how to proceed for the remainder of the year. I was disappointed when these reports were discontinued last year and I appreciate usda reinstating them this march. Dr.
▶ 1:26:26Sen. Moran: Hutchins, if confirmed will you commit to continuing these reports that give farmers and ranchers the information they need to make better financial and management decisions?
▶ 1:26:39Dr. Hutchins: Yes. The national ag statistics service provides the data farmers need to make good decisions. As a scientist I'm a big believer in data and data driven decisions so that type of information will be pursued.
▶ 1:26:56Sen. Moran: I will not ask a question because of the 16 seconds that remain on the clock but I want to highlight that senator perrault and I --
▶ 1:27:08Sen. Klobuchar: You can't.
▶ 1:27:16Sen. Moran: Senator hirono and I have released legislation to provide funding for research into two shins to cut down on their maintenance backgrounds and invest in research facilities. I've seen a number of those research facilities across the country and in kansas and investment in infrastructure seems to be the thing that has been overlooked in the mission of providing research we have forgotten how to maintain our buildings and have the latest equipment.
▶ 1:27:46Sen. Moran: I assume for both of you that concept and that legislation would be something that would be supported and I would ask both of you if that is the case?
▶ 1:27:55Dr. Hutchins: The good news about our land grant system is it has been established for a long time. The bad news is some of those buildings need to be refreshed and refurbished and so forth. Certainly I commit to you that whatever funding is provided by congress that we will make the best use of that to ensure facilities are improved. Thank you.
▶ 1:28:18Mr. Hoskins: I would not endeavor to try to improve on Dr. hutchins response but I would concur.
▶ 1:28:24Sen. Moran: Thank you.
▶ 1:28:27Sen. Klobuchar: . Senator slotkin?
▶ 1:28:33Sen. Slotkin: I want to continue want what's inner moran was talking about which is the importance of research. I am from michigan and farming is a huge part of our life michigan state university ton of agricultural research. I grew up in my family farm in michigan. This is an issue that is close to my heart.
▶ 1:28:56Sen. Slotkin: I am and also a -- I am also a cia officer by training so I think about agriculture through a national security lens and what I am concerned about is assuming you will be confirmed in your job you will oversee the potential largest cut to agricultural research in american history. The president's budget proposes a $600 million cut to research.
▶ 1:29:20Sen. Slotkin: While I am in -- I will sign onto any bill that promotes research and infrastructure because my farmers depend on it, what I am concerned is the president's budget says there is $600 million of agricultural research that is woke or waste.
▶ 1:29:42Sen. Slotkin: You believe $600 million of our current research in things like potato varietals and legumes and things my farmers are desperate for, do you believe we have $600 million of woke or wasteful research right now?
▶ 1:29:59Dr. Hutchins: Truthfully, to answer that question in a meaningful way I need to understand the specifics of what is being proposed and what is not. I have no idea the value of that context but what I can commit to you is we will utilize whatever money congress provides in order to ensure we are having the best return on investment, that we are supporting all the farmers we can in your state and others.
▶ 1:30:22Sen. Slotkin: I would say you do not want to be the guy who oversees the biggest agricultural research cut in american history. In your estimation, what is the one country in the world who is doing significant agricultural research that is investing heavy in agricultural research besides the united states?
▶ 1:30:41Dr. Hutchins: I am sure it would be china.
▶ 1:30:44Sen. Slotkin: It has got to be china. I'm not trying to play gotcha. It is a zero-sum situation. We want to invent the next varietal, we want to figure out the next best farming technique and china is stealing our technology come out intellectual property, and then investing boatloads into their own research. I do not want to be second to them.
▶ 1:31:08Sen. Slotkin: I want to always be the world leader and I would offer that on only do I want that as a national security thing, but our farmers want to be able to compete. We have close the lid research facility in michigan state university. When I do town halls with farmers who are not people I consider woke or wasteful, they are the one saying can you bring that back, can you help me figure out how to get that?
▶ 1:31:38Sen. Slotkin: What will be be investing in or how we stay competitive? I will ask for you to stand up on the back of that research which is not woke or wasteful but is going to farmers we all want to protect and want to see succeed. I would ask you to stand up for research when and if you are confirmed for this job.
▶ 1:31:58Dr. Hutchins: Secretary lawrence -- secretary rollins has made clear her support for small farmers and their need and I stand with her.
▶ 1:32:08Sen. Slotkin: Let me turn to Mr. hoskins. You will be overseeing the departments that look at avian flu, that make sure we do not have an outbreak. Michigan we had an early outbreak and I think we did a good job of controlling it. I think we have become a model around the country. I am concerned there has been firings from the department of agriculture for people who work on avian flu and then rehiring them the next week. There has been a sloppy approach.
▶ 1:32:37Sen. Slotkin: In terms of the buyouts that were offered, I understand over half of the veterinarians who coordinate the testing and research on avian flu took the buyout. What are you going to do to make sure that with all of the staffing firings and voluntary departures you will still be able to have a handle on the next version of avian flu?
▶ 1:33:01Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for the question and for the your staff gave me in your office that raised this issue and a number of others. In michigan here have a diversity of production practices on the poultry and dairy side.
▶ 1:33:26Mr. Hoskins: I look at senator roth -- at secretary rollins five pronged approach and would do everything I can to implement that posthaste. To your question on staffing, as someone who is not at the department currently I'm not privy to the briefings or assessments of resource needs or gaps.
▶ 1:33:48Mr. Hoskins: What I would commit to if confirmed was making that assessment and supporting and standing by secretary rollins public comments that seat -- that she will ensure an adequate workforce to address the core mission which includes protecting U.S. culture from animal disease.
▶ 1:34:07Sen. Slotkin: I hope you do. Thank you. I yelled back.
▶ 1:34:12Chair Boozman: Senator fischer?
▶ 1:34:16Sen. Fischer: Thank you to both of our nominees here today. I appreciate you putting yourself forward to serve the country. Mr. hoskins, I thank you for taking the time to meet with me yesterday as we discussed challenges facing usda with animal disease, whether it is avian flu or new world and we discussed the importance of having science be the driving force when it comes to regulatory actions that impact
▶ 1:34:48Sen. Fischer: Agriculture across the government. I look forward to you helping to ensure that. Dr. hutchins, if confirmed he will oversee the agricultural research service and I've talked to secretary rollins about the importance of ensuring we are funding innovative and high-impact research that benefits our farmers and ranchers.
▶ 1:35:15Sen. Fischer: In nebraska we have been working to secure funding for an ars facility that will be co-located at the university of nebraska lincoln. That will be focused on precision agri-search. Last year we broke ground on that facility with many agricultural stakeholders present and excited about the potential research to take place there. Dr.
▶ 1:35:38Sen. Fischer: Hutchins, should you be confirmed can I get your commitment to continue to work with me on that facility and to bring high-impact precision agriculture research?
▶ 1:35:50Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for the question. Certainly the university of nebraska has a tremendous reputation and capability as a land-grant institution. I do not have any background on the specific laboratory and the purpose with it but I will commit to you is to learn that.
▶ 1:36:16Dr. Hutchins: As we evaluate all of the opportunities to work with you to ensure it provides the best value to U.S. farmers and ranchers.
▶ 1:36:26Sen. Fischer: Secretary rollins has also discussed she will be releasing a reorganization plan for usda which could entail moving agencies outside of the D.C. metro. I agree with senator rollins that having more usda employees close to farmers and ranchers is a good thing and could save taxpayer dollars.
▶ 1:36:50Sen. Fischer: I have also brought up to secretary rollins that nebraska would be a great location for agencies like the ones you will be in charge of. To a number of leading land-grant universities, a strong agricultural industry that is supported by the state and a lower cost of living. Dr. hutchins, you are involved in the last administrations move of ers and nifa to kansas city.
▶ 1:37:20Sen. Fischer: Could you talk about some of the benefits from that and you think that is something that should be under consideration again?
▶ 1:37:28Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for the question. In the case of ers and nifa, the business case for that for the case for the taxpayer was clear in terms of cost savings and value. The opportunity to recruit and retain within that area.
▶ 1:37:48Dr. Hutchins: As I had mentioned previously I do not have a good handle on the status of that situation but those core principles secretary perdue advocated for at that time are still true and so we will follow up on that. Those same principles will carry over to any assessment in that context. In every evaluation you want to do the right thing.
▶ 1:38:17Dr. Hutchins: In some cases it will make a lot of sense and in other cases it will not make as much.
▶ 1:38:21Sen. Fischer: In nebraska we are also proud of the work being done from relationship they have with livestock producers in the state and across the country. We are the beef state across the ars enterprise.
▶ 1:38:45Sen. Fischer: They are in need of facility improvements and I have heard that contracting requirements can increase the cost of these facility improvements -- from your experience in working with usda are there ways the agency can be more efficient with taxpayer dollars when it comes to being able to identify
▶ 1:39:17Sen. Fischer: These very valuable facilities and the work they do and maintaining them and improving them?
▶ 1:39:22Dr. Hutchins: The simple answer is yes. And every organization I have ever worked in there is always opportunity for efficiency and effectiveness and to focus on the goals and outcomes. That would be my commitment to do with these agencies and any enterprise I was involved with.
▶ 1:39:39Sen. Fischer: Thank you both and I look forward to working with you in your new positions.
▶ 1:39:44Chair Boozman: Senator klobuchar?
▶ 1:39:48Sen. Klobuchar: I just have one last question and then I will put two questions on the record to save time with the boats. On local -- to save time with the votes. I last question is the tag marketing service has a mandate to ensure fair and transparent markets across livestock and commodities.
▶ 1:40:10Sen. Klobuchar: Under the previous administration usda used its authority with cattle contract library and some interagency efforts. How will you ensure you are fulfilling this obligation and continuing on this progress of ensuring there is competition?
▶ 1:40:30Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question ranking member klobuchar. I recognize this is one of the issues you raised when I had a chance to meet with you in your office last week.
▶ 1:40:46Mr. Hoskins: What I can say is if I were confirmed I would commit to ensuring ams fair trade practices programs which includes stockyards, the perishable commodity act and the bioengineering food disclosure rule have this suite of disclosure and transparency authorities congress has passed to mandate an agency. I would commit to ensuring an agency was compliant with the congressional spirit and intent with those laws and authorities.
▶ 1:41:15Mr. Hoskins: Beyond that, as a nominee before the committee I have personally feel like it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on potential or future rulemaking the department may consider or may not consider. I can commit to complying with the mandate congress has given us.
▶ 1:41:33Sen. Klobuchar: Thank you very much. Thank you both of you.
▶ 1:41:45Mr. Hoskins: Thank you.
▶ 1:42:44Chair Boozman: We have a high level conference. We have a member that is trying to get here. We will give them a minute or two. We will not adjourn for a minute or two. You can take a break or do whatever you need to do. It is hard with the votes.
▶ 1:43:13Chair Boozman: As many of you know we did not been forced to get over and vote on time rule, it was very lax. We have tightened it up. If you're not there in a certain time they call the vote and you miss out. Some things we can do or not do. Primarily we are here to vote.
▶ 1:43:44Chair Boozman: You have any other questions or comments?
▶ 1:44:25Chair Boozman: Senator schiff?
▶ 1:44:27Sen. Schiff: Thank you, chairman. The success of california's agriculture industry is at least partially thanks to the very specialized knowledge and work of usda experts.
▶ 1:44:52Sen. Schiff: It is principally the success of the hard-working people in the agricultural industry who are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. As two examples of the role usda experts play, there are many more, afis protects california growers against citrus disease and conducts research on the efficacy of agriculture in tree orchards. Mr. hoskins and Dr.
▶ 1:45:21Sen. Schiff: Hutchins, based on your experience, can you both briefly speak to the importance of afis, f importance of afis, nifa, and ers staffing in ensuring the safety and success of california's specialty crop industry?
▶ 1:45:40Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question. I will go first, just alphabetically. Not in substance. I would say when I think about that question from an afis programmatic side, the mandate and authority this chamber is given the agency to help work in support and collaboration with your growers, your community in california, the california
▶ 1:46:11Mr. Hoskins: Department of food and agriculture which plays a central role as a partner in identifying and mitigating the plant side of the equation and animal disease surveillance and response activities. When I look at that portfolio, no matter where afis is or what issue we are talking about the state partnership is essential.
▶ 1:46:38Mr. Hoskins: See dfa has been indispensable in that -- cdfa has been indispensable in that for as long as of I had the privilege to work in this space. Your question on staffing, to someone not at the department currently and someone who does not have the benefit of internal briefings or assessments or resources or capacity, all I can say is I've heard secretary rollins state publicly her support and mandate that afis
▶ 1:47:11Mr. Hoskins: Will ensure an adequate workforce to meet their mandate.
▶ 1:47:13Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for the question. I've had the pleasure of traveling your state extensively. I've seen the great agriculture there. To the cotton. It is a wondrous place from an agricultural standpoint. It is a candyland.
▶ 1:47:32Dr. Hutchins: Without a doubt the federal agencies and usda research and the local agencies have had a tremendous impact on the success of agriculture in your state, burger clear with the areas where developing methods and technologies for drought tolerance and so forth.
▶ 1:47:53Dr. Hutchins: What I can speak to is those types of activities are critically important to california and they will continue to be.
▶ 1:48:03Sen. Schiff: Mr. hoskins, can you comment on the work to be done to reduce barriers to participation in the commodity procurement programs for small or beginning farmers and how we can create more opportunities for more farmers to provide healthy food?
▶ 1:48:19Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question. When I think about the commodity procurement program, the section 32 authority it facilitates surplus removal and how their assessment is done to execute on that mandate, I also think about some of the complexity that the agency is required to comply with under larger than usda
▶ 1:48:49Mr. Hoskins: Authorities or compliance. The federal procurement act and the cascade of regulations and steps vendors or participants have to go through to access that program.
▶ 1:49:04Mr. Hoskins: I do not pretend to understand that matrix, but what I can commit to is if I were confirmed I would want to work with you at your office, this committee, the senate to better understand how or if or when the agency can reduce some of those impediments to participation for producers of all size.
▶ 1:49:23Sen. Schiff: Thank you, chairman.
▶ 1:49:28Chair Boozman: Senator justice?
▶ 1:49:31Sen. Justice: Thank you, Mr. chairman. We are all doing a lot of running right now. You know that. Dudley hoskins and Dr. scott hutchins, I can tell you without any question we need you in place and we need you in place right now. Your duties are going to be unbelievable.
▶ 1:50:01Sen. Justice: I hope you truly know that and will not go through the motions, but you will try to do what muhammad ali of all people said years and years ago. He shook up the world. That is what we need to be doing. Just think about this. A lot of times I do not put these notes together. Our folks just jotted down a few notes.
▶ 1:50:30Sen. Justice: Think about one of the notes says one U.S. farmer feeds 169 people in this country or in the world. It says agriculture is our lifeblood. It says things like how critical the research of our land-grant universities are. With all of that being said, Mr.
▶ 1:50:59Sen. Justice: Hoskins, you said earlier your dad said the good lord created the universe in seven days and with all of that being said he still has not figured out the cattle market. I can positively guarantee you than the last couple of years the good lord figured out the cattle market. The cattle market has moved in a great way.
▶ 1:51:25Sen. Justice: We need the same thing to happen for alvar -- for all of our folks and agriculture. My family has been in the agriculture business forever and I truly know exactly what is going on out there. You can have a lot of people that are scared to death right now. We need your marketing arm, we need in every way for you to step up and make that difference to where you are shaking up the whole world.
▶ 1:51:53Sen. Justice: With all of that being said I would say to you from the bottom of my heart, it is so important, it is so unbelievably important today that we get a farm bill that we absolutely put our great farmers to where they can at least rest while they are doing the most unbelievable work.
▶ 1:52:18Sen. Justice: Like I said, I have run from vote to vote in committee to committee and a lot of different directions today. I wanted to speak because I think our chairman is a superstar. That is all there is to it. Whether it be the ranking members or other folks on the committee that do great work. All of these people out here depend now on you in every way.
▶ 1:52:49Sen. Justice: Do not let us down. Have an unbelievable passion for what you are doing. Not only am I a business guy. I am not a politician. I am really proud of the fact of how in tune in with our farming industry across this great land. In addition to that I am a conservationist.
▶ 1:53:20Sen. Justice: I have done someday programs for wildlife it is unbelievable. The only question I think I can possibly ask is one thing. In the state of west virginia we are trying to reintroduce elk into west virginia and my question would be this. What steps -- what additional steps can be taken for the survivability of this majestic creature that is being absolutely reintroduced into west virginia today?
▶ 1:53:50Sen. Justice: Mr.oskins, maybe that is a question for you?
▶ 1:53:53Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question. Dr. hutchins may have other equities under the ars umbrella. My recollection working with afis in the first trump administration under secretary perdue, there are protocols and processes that veterinary services work with stakeholder groups and state veterinarians to facilitate the transfer and reintroduction of certain species, including elk.
▶ 1:54:26Mr. Hoskins: All I can say is if I were confirmed I would do my level best to ensure afis was working closely with the state animal health officials and the stakeholders interested in promoting that relocation to facilitate that in a way that did not compromise animal health.
▶ 1:54:47Sen. Justice: Thank you both. I know you will do great work and I will stand ready to help you anyway I possibly can. Mr. chairman, thank you.
▶ 1:54:56Chair Boozman: Thank you, senator justice. Senator welch?
▶ 1:55:04Sen. Welch: I wanted to ask a question to Mr. hoskins about the natural organic program. We have six under 90 usda organic certified farms -- we have 690 usa organic certified farms. Our farmers want consisted organic regulations. That is the foundation of a thriving organic market.
▶ 1:55:33Sen. Welch: My hope is given the recent staff reductions at the national organic program, how is usda intend to maintain support for transitioning in existing organic producers so this organic sector that does have a lot of value added can continue to grow?
▶ 1:55:53Mr. Hoskins: Thank you for that question. And to your staff for making themselves available to me to meet in your office before today's hearing. They raised this issue and a number of other priorities you have on behalf of vermont agricultural producers.
▶ 1:56:15Mr. Hoskins: In my experience with the ams national organic program you have absolutely the most committed, informed career officials working to government that program consistent with the national organic food production act this committee and the senate passed in 1990.
▶ 1:56:35Mr. Hoskins: There are challenges at times in my recollection with the agency working with different certifiers, especially certifiers that are overseas certifying product coming into the U.S.. I do not know there is an answer to all of those challenges but I would say in the 18 farm bill this committee and the congress passed the organic safety act.
▶ 1:57:04Mr. Hoskins: It basically mandated the department would update and modernize their ability to protect the integrity of the organic seal. There are ways to do that with partnerships and also modernizing technology and resources the agency can use to better pierce that fail -- pierce that vail and ensure products coming in were consistent with the same level
▶ 1:57:35Mr. Hoskins: Of protection and practices are producers execute.
▶ 1:57:38Sen. Welch: Mr. hutchins, welcome. You been a champion of acknowledging the hardship the wild weather is imposing on a lot of our producers. We had floods in vermont in 2023 and 2024. Same day in july 2023 and 2024.
▶ 1:58:04Sen. Welch: You previously told this committee that usda is fully committed to supporting research that ensures U.S. will be able to adapt to a changing climate. That is welcome news because we think any information we want to get will help us. How can the research education and economic commission at usda help make rural communities and farmers more resilient?
▶ 1:58:33Dr. Hutchins: Thank you for the question. As I alluded to earlier I believe we have a great opportunity in front of us with regard to the science that leads to the technology that will allow us to develop crops and animals to be more resilient to heat, to be more resilient to a drought, whatever the case may be. We can utilize those tools.
▶ 1:58:56Sen. Welch: You will maintain that and do all you can to help there?
▶ 1:59:00Dr. Hutchins: Farmers have been dealing with the weather since farming. That will always continue the good news is we will have the tools and we do have the tools to allow them to succeed.
▶ 1:59:11Sen. Welch: I want to move on to one other question. There is a lot of support in vermont for the local food and schools program. I was very disappointed that those programs were canceled. Can you work with us to help restart programs like that?
▶ 1:59:42Mr. Hoskins: This is another issue your staff raised when I had a chance to meet with them. I understand your concern and frustration. I heard from a number of different offices and staff raise the same questions. Not being at the department and not privy to the internal briefings or assessments on what programs or needs are being matched for should be met I do not know if I can speak to that directly.
▶ 2:00:11Mr. Hoskins: What I would say is under the tag marketing service agency this committee and the senate have directed that agency through different farm bill's and other authorities to facilitate local agricultural marketing production and connecting some of that local food resiliency system.
▶ 2:00:32Mr. Hoskins: I do not know that it would be carbon copied to what you are hearing or looking at under the lfap but there are existing programs where ams may be able to meet similar needs. If confirmed I would continue to work with the agencies to ensure compliance with the law.
▶ 2:00:55Sen. Welch: Thank you and I yield back.
▶ 2:00:58Chair Boozman: Thank you again to Mr. hoskins and Dr. hutchins for appearing before the committee. And again to our committee members for their participation in the hard work of the staff to make all of this happen as always. The record will remain open for two business days. With that today's hearing is now adjourned.