Vilsack: ‘It’s frustrating’ filling USDA opening despite expecting record exports

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he expects another strong year for U.S. ag export sales.

“We had a record year for exports last year – $177 billion – we expect to break that record this year.”

Vilsack says USDA will conduct trade missions to the United Kingdom in June,  Philippines in July, Kenya in October and Spain in November. “There are a whole heck of a lot of people at USDA that are working very hard to make these trade missions successful that it doesn’t necessarily require a single person so make them successful.”

Speaking to reporters at the Commodity Classic last week, Vilsack said the department is working to fill the position of USDA undersecretary of trade after two people were unwilling to serve. 

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