By Agri-Pulse Staff
© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 – Reacting quickly to USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Jim Miller's resignation, FFAS employees received the following e-mail Wednesday announcing that “Michael Scuse will assume the role of Acting Under Secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS) upon the departure of Under Secretary Jim Miller later this month.”
Dear Employee,
We wanted to let you know that Michael Scuse will assume the role of Acting Under Secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS) upon the departure of Under Secretary Jim Miller later this month. Scuse brings continuity of leadership to the role, having served as Deputy Under Secretary in FFAS since April 2009. As Acting Under Secretary, Scuse will lead FFAS’s continuing efforts to break down trade barriers, promote agricultural exports, and effectively deliver farm programs and loans to the farmers and ranchers that USDA serves.
Scuse brings two very important strengths to the job of Acting Under Secretary for FFAS: extensive knowledge of agriculture and a solid management background. Having served as Delaware's agriculture secretary and vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), Michael knows U.S. agriculture from both state and national perspectives. He also understands farming first-hand. For 35 years, he and his brother have run a successful grain operation in their home state.
Scuse was Secretary of Agriculture for Delaware from May 2001 until September 2008, when Governor Ruth Ann Minner (D) named him as her chief of staff. From 1996 to 2001, Scuse served as both chairman of the Kent County (Delaware) Regional Planning Commission and chairman of USDA's FSA State Committee. Before that, he was Kent County Recorder of Deeds.
In addition to serving as NASDA vice president while agriculture secretary, Scuse was also president of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
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