Photobucket


La Vida Locavore
 Subscribe in a reader
Follow La Vida Locavore on Twitter - Read La Vida Locavore on Kindle

Jim Miller

Jim Miller Steps Down at USDA

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Jan 18, 2011 at 22:48:04 PM PST

USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service Jim Miller has resigned from the USDA. This might sound like boring or routine news but I think it is actually significant. Miller was a favorite of Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who he worked for on the Senate Ag Committee before moving over to the USDA. From the rumors I heard, Miller's role within the USDA was to keep Kathleen Merrigan from doing anything too "organic-y" (if you know what I mean).

At this point, there's no word on why he resigned, but it's fairly normal to have turnover in high level government positions like this. I wouldn't be too surprised if Miller left because he was offered a high paid lobbying position for Big Ag... or if he left for another reason but gets a lobbying job all the same. I also wonder how this will change things around the USDA, and who will be chosen to replace Miller for the remainder of Obama's term.

Discuss :: (5 Comments)

USDA Appointee Update

by: Jill Richardson

Sat Apr 11, 2009 at 06:00:00 AM PDT

There are a few new appointments to the USDA since I last wrote about the topic on this blog, as well as a few previously announced appointees who have now been confirmed.

The most recent news is the choice of Doug O'Brien as Kathleen Merrigan's Chief of Staff. O'Brien is one of the Sustainable Dozen advocated for on the Food Democracy Now petition, so that's two down and ten to go on our list of twelve. Also recently announced are the nominations of Michael Michener as Administrator of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Dave White as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Someone who knows White and has worked with him said to me, "I don't think we could have found a better person to run the agency." Yay!

Last, recently confirmed by the Senate are Kathleen Merrigan as USDA's Deputy Secretary, Jim Miller as Under Secretary of the Farm Service & Foreign Agricultural Service, and Joe Leonard as assistant secretary for civil rights.

Details below...

There's More... :: (1 Comments, 693 words in story)

Saxby Chambliss Disses USDA Nominee For Loving Organics Too Much

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Apr 01, 2009 at 13:22:17 PM PDT

Today the Senate Ag Committee met to confirm three nominees to the USDA: Kathleen Merrigan (Deputy USDA Secretary), Jim Miller (Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services), and Joe Leonard (Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights). All three will be confirmed, there is little doubt about that, but the highlight of the hearing for me was when Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) took Merrigan to task for her love of organic agriculture. Just one more reason we need to toss his ass out of the Senate in 2014.

Details below...

There's More... :: (3 Comments, 1346 words in story)

New USDA Appointments: Jim Miller and Dallas P. Tonsager

by: Jill Richardson

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

Today Obama announced two new USDA appointments - Jim Miller for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Dallas P. Tonsager to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.

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!).

There's More... :: (1 Comments, 788 words in story)
Political Activism Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory
Menu

Make a New Account

Username:

Password:



Forget your username or password?


Notable Diaries
- The 2007 Ag Census
- Cuba Diaries
- Mexico Diaries
- Bolivia Diaries
- Philippines Diaries
- My Visit to Growing Power
- My Trip to a Hog Confinement
- Why We Grow So Much Corn and Soy
- How the Chicken Gets to Your Plate

Search




Advanced Search


Blog Roll
Blogs
- Beginning Farmers
- Chews Wise
- City Farmer News
- Civil Eats
- Cooking Up a Story
- Cook For Good
- DailyKos
- Eating Liberally
- Epicurean Ideal
- The Ethicurean
- F is For French Fry
- Farm Aid Blog
- Food Politics
- Food Sleuth Blog
- Foodgirl.ca
- Foodperson.com
- Ghost Town Farm
- Goods from the Woods
- The Green Fork
- Gristmill
- GroundTruth
- Irresistable Fleet of Bicycles
- John Bunting's Dairy Journal
- Liberal Oasis
- Livable Future Blog
- Marler Blog
- My Left Wing
- Not In My Food
- Obama Foodorama
- Organic on the Green
- Rural Enterprise Center
- Take a Bite Out of Climate Change
- Treehugger
- U.S. Food Policy
- Yale Sustainable Food Project

Reference
- Recipe For America
- Eat Well Guide
- Local Harvest
- Sustainable Table
- Farm Bill Primer
- California School Garden Network

Organizations
- The Center for Food Safety
- Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Community Food Security Coalition
- The Cornucopia Institute
- Farm Aid
- Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
- Food and Water Watch
-
National Family Farm Coalition
- Organic Consumers Association
- Rodale Institute
- Slow Food USA
- Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- Union of Concerned Scientists

Magazines
- Acres USA
- Edible Communities
- Farmers' Markets Today
- Mother Earth News
- Organic Gardening

Book Recommendations
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
- Appetite for Profit
- Closing the Food Gap
- Diet for a Dead Planet
- Diet for a Small Planet
- Food Politics
- Grub
- Holistic Management
- Hope's Edge
- In Defense of Food
- Mad Cow USA
- Mad Sheep
- The Omnivore's Dilemma
- Organic, Inc.
- Recipe for America
- Safe Food
- Seeds of Deception
- Teaming With Microbes
- What To Eat

User Blogs
- Beyond Green
- Bifurcated Carrot
- Born-A-Green
- Cats and Cows
- The Food Groove
- H2Ome: Smart Water Savings
- The Locavore
- Loving Spoonful
- Nourish the Spirit
- Open Air Market Network
- Orange County Progressive
- Peak Soil
- Pink Slip Nation
- Progressive Electorate
- Trees and Flowers and Birds
- Urbana's Market at the Square


Active Users
Currently 4 user(s) logged on.

Powered by: SoapBlox