New USDA Appointments: Jim Miller and Dallas P. Tonsager

by: Jill Richardson

Fri Mar 13, 2009 at 16:35:12 PM PDT

Overall, neither of these guys are organic CSA farmers or outspoken Michael Pollan fans, but I think they aren't bad. Miller's affiliation with the National Farmers Union is a good thing, as is Tonsager's past as an appointee to federal positions. I doubt either of them will rock the boat too heavily, but they also aren't paid shills for Monsanto.

Details below.

UPDATE: Jim Miller's definitely NOT on the side of sustainable agriculture. He's very much for keeping things at the status quo (or worse!).

Miller is coming directly from a role as Chief of Staff for the National Farmers Union. He's held that role since 1999, following 4 years as Senior Analyst for Agriculture and Trade on the majority staff of the Senate Budget Committee. He came back to the Senate Budget Committee during the farm bill, which means he's probably pretty tight with Kent Conrad (D-ND). On ag issues, that's NOT a good thing in my book.

Miller also has served as Chief Economist for the National Farmers Union and as Vice President for Government Relations for the National Association of Wheat Growers.

Miller operated a fourth-generation family farm in eastern Washington for over 20 years and served as President of the National Association of Wheat Growers in 1987. He was Co-Chairman of the Canada-U.S. Joint Commission on Grains, a federal commission established to resolve grain trade issues between the two countries. He is a graduate of Washington State University. He and his wife, Sandy, have two sons and two grandsons.

If you've heard of the National Farmers Union, it might be because its president, Tom Buis, was rumored to be considered for the role of Agriculture Secretary. From what I heard at the time, they're an OK group - a far cry from the similarly named Farm Bureau. For example, their site calls for fair trade over free trade.

And how about the National Association of Wheat Growers? My hunch is that they represent a bunch of really, really, really, really big farms (because about 2/3 of American wheat is grown by farms over 2000 acres). From their site, they support GM wheat, they are FOR the direct payment subsidies, and the like the idea of cellulosic ethanol. Not so good.

Miller's job at the USDA will be overseeing the Farm Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service. It sounds like his appointment does not mean we'll be seeing any major changes in policy in these areas. I realize that Obama's trying to cut subsidies to "agribusinesses that don't need them" but Miller will probably be very understanding of the opposition to Obama's plan for that. Miller will also probably be a proponent of agricultural exports, although I hope that he's a fan of fair trade over free trade and perhaps he can weigh in on renegotiation of any of our myraid disastrous FTAs.

The USDA's page describes the agencies he'll oversee by saying:

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services helps to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business as they face the uncertainties of weather and markets. They deliver commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance programs that help improve the stability and strength of the agricultural economy.

Dallas Tonsager

Tonsager currently serves on the board of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA). He's held that position for 5 years. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation. B worked as Executive Director of the South Dakota Value-Added Agriculture Development Center, where he "coordinated initiatives to better serve producers who developed value-added agricultural projects."

Tonsager was appointed by President Clinton as the South Dakota State Rural Development Director in 1993 and was named one of two outstanding state directors by USDA in 1999. In partnership with his brother, he owns Plainview Farm in Oldham, S.D., a family operation that includes corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University. He and his wife, Sharon, have two sons.

So, where is Tonsager coming from? Here's info on the Farm Credit Administration from their site:

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) is an independent Federal agency that regulates and examines the banks, associations, and related entities of the Farm Credit System (FCS), including the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

The FCS is the largest agricultural lender in the United States. It is a nationwide network of lending institutions that are owned by their borrowers. It serves all 50 States and Puerto Rico.

The FCS provides credit and other services to agricultural producers and farmer-owned cooperatives. It also makes loans for the following:

* Agricultural processing and marketing activities
* Rural housing
* Certain farm-related businesses
* Agricultural and aquatic cooperatives
* Rural utilities
* Foreign and domestic companies involved in international agricultural trade

Although FCA is a Federal agency, we are not supported by Federal money; instead, we are funded by assessments paid by FCS institutions.

About the Rural Development area of the USDA that he will oversee, the USDA says:

RD helps rural areas to develop and grow by offering Federal assistance that improves quality of life. RD targets communities in need and then empowers them with financial and technical resources.

This area includes the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Rural Housing Service, and the Rural Utilities Service.