Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall participated in a Senate Committee hearing regarding nominations for key positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President Donald Trump. The nominees, Stephen Vaden for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Tyler Clarkson for General Counsel, provided insights on various agriculture-related topics.

Stephen Vaden, who comes from a farming family, currently serves as a judge of the United States Court of International Trade. Vaden addressed the U.S. trade deficit, emphasizing the need for increased promotion of American agricultural products and ongoing vigilance against foreign trade barriers.

“We’ve got to promote, and that involves a salesmanship activity," Vaden stated while recognizing the Secretary's commitment to visiting six countries for agricultural exports promotion.

Vaden also discussed conservation efforts and precision agriculture. He argued for the importance of scientific advancements and chemicals in improving soil health and supporting farmers' necessary tools, highlighting no-till agriculture as a beneficial practice.

Tyler Clarkson expressed his views on the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), critiquing the previous administration's use of the CCC for certain initiatives. "I do think that the prior administration’s use of CCC required quite a bit of legal creativity that strained the statutory text," Clarkson said.

The discussion included California’s Proposition 12, with Vaden expressing awareness of the challenge it poses to farmers operating nationally. He emphasized the need for Congressional intervention, noting previous bipartisan opposition to Proposition 12.

Senator Marshall, drawing from his farming background, sought clarification on supporting conservation, reducing trade deficits, and ensuring agricultural policies are fair and beneficial to American farmers.

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