Barley groups sign onto support for USDA agencies impacted by proposed restructuring
Over 50 organizations, representing farmers, ranchers, agricultural scientists, land-grant universities, commodity groups, agribusinesses, and food producers across the country, sent a letter to Congress expressing their concerns about actions taken within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area over the past year. Several of the disruptions detailed in the letter have directly undermined the agricultural research enterprise that underpins American farmers' productivity, profitability, and global leadership.
The REE mission area – comprising the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Economic Research Service (ERS), and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) – is the backbone of American agricultural innovation. For farmers and ranchers, federal food and agricultural research translates directly into better seeds, more effective pest management, lower input costs, and the agronomic knowledge that keeps American producers competitive in global markets. Just as critically, USDA research safeguards the quality and safety of the food supply itself, increasing yields, advancing pathogen reduction, improving post-harvest handling, strengthening processing technologies, and ensuring that the nutritional value of crop and livestock products is maintained from farm to consumer.
The American Malting Barley Association, National Barley Improvement Committee, and National Barley Growers Association were all signatories on the letter, which can be read in its entirety here.
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