00:00Thank you. Before I ask my questions, I'd like to add letters of support from various
00:05farm groups for Mr. Fordyce's nomination in the record. Without objection, so ordered.
00:15Mr. Fordyce, you've had extensive engagement with the Farm Service Agency. How do you plan to best
00:21utilize the FSA County office employees while also improving technology and communication between
00:28FSA and the RMA to provide exceptional service to producers across the country? I know we were out
00:35and about, have been out and about a lot for the last couple of years in regard to trying to get
00:41together a farm bill, trying to help our farmers, but in talking to the FSA people, it's not unusual
00:48for them to talk about having to get into multiple different entities in order to get the information
00:54they need in order to do things in a timely fashion. Well, Senator, thank you for that question.
01:05You know, I too have had those very same conversations. When I was the administrator
01:09in the first administration, you know, we implemented a lot of programs, most notably the 2018 Farm Bill.
01:19With those implementations, it lots of times creates the necessity to create software that supports that
01:27that implementation. And I think I think I can safely say and I think others would probably agree,
01:34probably some in the room that a lot of our technologies are woefully old and antiquated,
01:42I would almost say in some cases. And so certainly there is a need for some modernization in the tools
01:48that are used by FSA to deliver those programs. And also we probably could see some modernization in
01:55in the ways that we participate with the producers that we serve at FSA.
02:01The other thing that we hear a lot about is is just the the time that it takes in dealing with the
02:09loan process. We hear that from applicants and lenders across the board. I think it's gotten a little bit
02:16better, but it's still a problem. So again, I know that's something that that you're well aware of. And hopefully
02:23we'll be able to have you back in several months and you tell us a good story as to how we're moving in the
02:28right direction in that regard. So many of these things are just inefficiencies. They cost some money,
02:39but the efficiency will gain us so much and it's just a matter of us helping you to get those things
02:45done. You've got a wealth of experience both on the farm and in leadership at USDA. How can existing
02:52federal programs be expanded or modified to better support young and beginning farmers and ranchers?
03:02Well, again, Senator, a good question and I appreciate that question.
03:06You know, I think that all of us probably in this room certainly have an eye to the next generation
03:13and that population that is new or beginning farmers. And, you know, we're all probably pretty
03:20aware of the capital requirements and things that it does take to start a farm. They can be enormous.
03:29And so, you know, I think that in some cases, I think depending on where you are located geographically,
03:35what your history has been as a new farmer or beginning farmer, you know, I think we could probably
03:41do a better job of outreach and communication, making those new and beginning farmers more aware
03:49of what's available that can be of assistance and can be of help to starting a new farm. You know,
03:56not only from a from a program standpoint, a financial standpoint, but also even as a mentorship
04:03standpoint. And I think we could look to do that. Very good. As you know, the Farm Bill is the single
04:09largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation implemented by NRCS and FSA.
04:18The voluntary incentive-based conservation programs are a key part of the safety net used by farmers and
04:25ranchers to maximize on-farm efficiencies and opportunities, along with productivity.
04:32If confirmed, how do you plan to promote and enhance voluntary and incentive-based conservation
04:37programs like EQUIP and the Wetland Reserve Program?
04:43Yes, and thanks again for that question, Senator. I think it, a lot of it is, again, it's talking about
04:50that outreach, but I think it's that peer-to-peer outreach. You know, we've got a lot of producers
04:56across this country that have experience, have good experiences with EQUIP or the Wetland Reserve Program,
05:01and they sometimes can be our best advocates and, you know, look to find ways to include
05:08more folks to be able to share that story. Very good.
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