The American Soybean Association (ASA), which represents growers of the nation’s largest agricultural export, expressed its support today for Ted McKinney to fill the newly established Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs post at USDA, and Sam Clovis as Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.

“The U.S. exports well over half of the soybeans we produce, and agriculture is one of only a handful of business sectors in the country with a positive trade balance--$17 billion last year. That success abroad leads to success here at home, returning billions to the economy and supporting more than a million jobs. Ted McKinney is a person that understands the global nature of our business, and has represented farmers well in both the public and private sectors,” said ASA President Ron Moore, a soybean farmer from Roseville, Ill.  “In his role as director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, and is his previous leadership roles within the agriculture industry, Ted has exemplified the understanding of how as American farmers our work impacts and is impacted by the world around us. ASA supports Ted’s nomination and looks to the Senate to quickly confirm him.”

McKinney’s prospective position in the newly-created Undersecretary for Trade post at USDA is one that ASA and other agriculture groups have long advocated for, including in a letter to the White House in late February.

Moore also added ASA’s support for Clovis, saying that “Dr. Clovis’ Iowa and rural Kansas roots will serve him well as the department moves to serve farmers in the fields of research and economics. Dr. Clovis understands the importance of agricultural research to farmers, our ongoing success, and the success of future generations of farmers.  He also is well acquainted with the economic issues facing farmers and ranchers.  We will look to Dr. Clovis to help advance USDA’s mission in these important fields.”