A citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation was reappointed to the North Dakota Farm Service Agency state committee, according to a Jan. 13 announcement from the USDA Farm Service Agency. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed members of the state committee.
Todd Hall, a rancher, and MHA citizen, joins the committee, which is responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from members of the agricultural community, maintain cooperative relations with industry stakeholders, keep producers informed about FSA programs, and operate in a manner consistent with USDA equal opportunity and civil rights policies.
Hall told Buffalo’s Fire: “My family’s agricultural roots run deep in the Great Plains. I find it an honor and a privilege to serve the industry and my fellow North Dakota Statesmen-women in a role which enables me to do so in a meaningful way. Nine times out of ten, common sense will win the day.”
The mission of North Dakota’s FSA is to assist the state’s farmers and ranchers secure the greatest possible benefit from programs administered by the FSA, such as farm loans, commodity price support, disaster relief, conservation, and any other resources available to them.
The diverse agricultural bounty of North Dakota feeds the entire world, and the working men and women of the committee are the point of contact for program participation and questions about available options. The committee is at the forefront of the FSA’s efforts and plays an integral role as a liaison between the farmers, ranchers, and the FSA.
Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members, including a designated chairperson. Todd Hall has been elected as the North Dakota Committee Chairman.
In addition to Hall, the appointed committee includes:
- Jim Dotzenrod – Wyndmere
- Christie Jaeger – Esmond
- Tyler Stafslien – Ryder
- Michelle Ziesch – Pettibone
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets ad streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing the systemic barriers that exist and building a workforce that is more representative of American values.
In the initial press release, Marcus Graham, FSA Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, said, “The FSA state committee members play an integral role in the continuity of operations, equitable and inclusive program administration, and ensure the overall integrity of services to the nation’s agricultural producers. These individuals have proven themselves to be leaders, early adopters, and key influencers in the agriculture industry in their respective states – qualities that will serve them well in these key Biden-Harris Administration leadership positions.”