Senator Marshall wants USDA Stop Playing Politics and Categorize AMS Market News as Essential

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. joined U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to categorize the Department’s Agricultural Marketing Service Market News Department as essential during any future government shutdowns. This comes after Biden’s USDA indicated the Market News Department would not be essential here in 2023 despite being deemed essential in the shutdown contingency plan for 2021 and being deemed essential by the previous administration in 2018.

AMS Market News provides accurate, timely, and reliable market information to all contributors to the agricultural supply chain including producers, processors, distributors, and retailers. The essential data also helps our agricultural exporters navigate international markets and remain competitive globally.

“The USDA is going out of their way to disproportionately hurt rural America and playing politics with a potential shutdown,” said Senator Marshall. “The precedent is clear, both the current and previous administration have deemed this service essential before. It doesn’t make any sense to reverse that decision now unless you were trying to send a message. USDA exists to serve farmers and ranchers, this reversal of policy by the Biden Administration is a clear contradiction of that mission.”

The full letter can be read HERE or below:

Dear Secretary Vilsack,

We write to respectfully request that you deem the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) USDA Market News Department as essential within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during any future government shutdowns. As you are aware, the AMS Market News Department plays a pivotal role in the agricultural sector, and its continued operation is crucial for the welfare of agriculture producers nationwide.

The USDA Market News Department has a long-standing history of providing accurate, timely, and reliable market information to all contributors to the agricultural supply chain. This information is indispensable for educated decision-making in the agricultural sector. Producers rely on this data to gauge market trends, determine pricing strategies, and make critical financial decisions. Additionally, agribusinesses, processors, distributors, and retailers depend on this information to optimize their operations and ensure the efficient flow of agricultural products to consumers.

The department’s role extends beyond the domestic market, as it contributes to the competitiveness of American agricultural products in the global marketplace. AMS Market News provides essential data that helps our agricultural exporters navigate international markets and remain competitive globally.

Due to these critical impacts, we request you officially designate the AMS Market News Department as an essential service within the USDA. This designation would ensure its continued operation during any future government shutdowns, guaranteeing that farmers, ranchers, and the broader agricultural community can access the market information they need to make informed decisions and sustain our nation’s agricultural industry.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and your dedication to the well-being of our agricultural industry. Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to your response and hope you will support this vital initiative.

Sincerely,

Roger Marshall, M.D.

United States Senator

Pete Ricketts

United States Senator

Joni K. Ernst

United States Senator

John Boozman

United States Senator

Deb Fischer

United States Senator

Chuck Grassley

United States Senator