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Censky Testifies at Senate Ag Confirmation Hearing

Sep 21, 2017

ASA CEO Steve Censky speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Ag Committee.

American Soybean Association (ASA) CEO Steve Censky testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee in Washington Tuesday as part of the confirmation process for his nomination to serve as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Nominated by President Donald Trump, Censky fielded questions from the committee on his priorities if confirmed, and the manner in which he would approach representing farmers across the country. Censky, who testified alongside Indiana Agriculture Director and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs nominee Ted McKinney, spoke to the need for focus from USDA on critical issues, like the expansion of trade agreements to benefit U.S. agricultural exports, the importance of crop insurance to farmers, and the impacts of climate change on farming operations. Censky and McKinney’s nominations now await a vote in committee, and if passed will go before the full Senate in the coming weeks.