REORGANIZATION TASK FORCE
Some of you are aware that I sent out a request asking for PT volunteers to serve on a NASCOE task force regarding USDA Reorganization. I thought I should maybe clarify a few things on why NASCOE is putting a task force together on this topic.
Background
During the mark up of the farm bill last spring, Rep. Zack Space (D.-Ohio) introduced an amendment shifting the administrative authority for conservation programs to FSA and leaving the technical authority for conservation programs with NRCS. During that session, sub committee chairman, Tim Holden (D-PA) asked him to pull the amendment since the House Ag Committee was going to address USDA Reorganization in 2008.
Holden said debates over structure should be deferred until 2008. Holden added that Ag Committee Chair, Colin Peterson (D-Minn) has given instruction to hold off any amendments that would affect department structure and to wait until the committee takes up USDA overhaul in 2008.
Holden said that reorganization of the entire department would proceed under separate legislation to be unveiled in 2008.
Where we are right now
While there hasn’t been much talk of USDA reorganization since last summer, NASCOE is taking the approach that this topic will probably be revisited sometime after we get a new farm bill.
NASCOE is organizing a task force comprised of a CED and a PT from each of the 5 areas to provide direction to the national officers if and when reorganization is brought back up. Again, please note that the talk during markup was for a USDA Department wide reorganization and not FSA reorganization.
While no knows for sure if there will be an effort to reorganize the department or not, NASCOE wants to be proactive rather than reactive. The national officers are trying to prepare themselves by finding out what direction the membership will want them to pursue if reorganization legislation is introduced.
Dennis Ray
MASCOE President