U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer announced July 17 the appointment of 25 new members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees.

The Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) is comprised of senior representatives from across the U.S. agricultural community who provide advice to USDA and USTR on trade policy matters, including the operation of existing trade agreements and the negotiation of new agreements. Members of the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) provide technical advice and guidance from the perspective of their specific product sectors.

The ATAC advises the secretary of agriculture and the USTR ambassador on matters that are of concern to the U.S. and its consumers, producers, processors and traders of grains, feed, oilseeds and planting seeds in connection with the trade policy activities undertaken by the U.S. and provides advice and information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production and trade concerning these products.

The newly appointed advisors will serve until 2024. Each committee will be supplemented by additional appointments over the next four years. Applications are encouraged at any time.  A complete list of committee members and application information is available at www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-advisory-committees. 

The American Feed Industry Assn. (AFIA) welcomed the addition of AFIA president and chief executive officer Constance Cullman and AFIA manager of market access and trade policy Mallory Gaines to serve on the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s APAC and ATAC for Trade in Animals & Animal Products, respectively.

Cullman and Gaines join AFIA director of international policy and trade Gina Tumbarello, who has served on the ATAC for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds & Planting Seeds since 2014, in providing valuable technical and policy advice and information about U.S. animal food products and the industry to the secretary of agriculture and USTR.

“Just like many industries, the U.S. animal food manufacturing industry depends on the sale of its products to international markets. By having Constance, Gina and Mallory participating in these various trade advisory committees at USDA, it allows the animal food industry to have a voice at the table as trade agreement and policy issues are discussed,” stated AFIA board chair Scott Druker of Church & Dwight Co.

Renewable Fuels Assn. (RFA) general counsel Ed Hubbard has also been appointed to the ATAC for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds & Planting Seeds and is the only appointee to any of the advisory committees to represent the renewable fuel industry.

RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “Ed brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on global trade issues to the committee, along with excellent collaboration and problem-solving skills. We know Ed will make many valuable contributions to the committee, and he will certainly represent RFA’s members and the entire renewable fuels industry well.”

Following is a list of the new advisors, by committee:

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee
Constance Cullman, AFIA
David Puglia, Western Growers
David Salmonsen, American Farm Bureau Federation

ATAC for Trade in Animals & Animal Products
Robert DeHaan, National Fisheries Institute
Mallory Gaines, AFIA
David Herring, Hog Slat Inc./TDM Farms
James Parnell, Alabama Farmers Federation
Maria Zieba, National Pork Producers Council

ATAC for Trade in Fruits & Vegetables
William Callis, U.S. Apple Export Council
Casey Creamer, California Citrus Mutual
Jodi Devaurs, California Table Grape Commission                    
Jonathan Maberry, Washington Red Raspberry Commission
Caroline Stringer, California Fresh Fruit Assn.

ATAC for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds & Planting Seeds
Peter Bachmann, USA Rice Federation
William Gordon, American Soybean Assn.
Derek Haigwood, D.I.D. Farms
Patrick Hayden, North American Export Grain Assn.
Dalton Henry, U.S. Wheat Associates
Edward Hubbard, RFA
Tina Lyons, Double River Forwarding LLC

ATAC for Trade in Processed Foods
Kevin Latner, National Industrial Hemp Council
Richard "Denton" McLane, McLane Global Trading
Max Moncaster, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Bernadette Wiltz, Southern United States Trade Assn.

ATAC for Trade in Sweeteners & Sweetener Products
No new members.

ATAC for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton & Peanuts
Karl Zimmer, Premium Peanut