New members announced to Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees

53 members have been named by the USDA and USTR.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai have announced the appointment or reappointment of 53 members to serve on seven Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees. These committees ensure U.S. agricultural stakeholders provide input on trade policy and negotiating objectives.

Committee Overview

Established by Congress in 1974, the advisory committee system includes:

  • Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC): Comprising senior agricultural representatives advising USDA and USTR on trade policy matters
  • Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs): Offering sector-specific guidance and insights from product categories such as animals, grains, processed foods, and more

Members provide recommendations to USDA and USTR on U.S. trade policies that affect global market access. Since 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has opened and preserved billions of dollars in agricultural exports, bolstering the U.S. economy.

The new appointees will serve until December 2028. A full list of members and further information about the committees can be found at www.fas.usda.gov/atacs.

Highlighted Appointments

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC):

  • John Bode, Corn Refiners Association
  • Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute
  • Vince Peterson, U.S. Wheat Associates
  • Elaine Trevino, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
  • William “Colin” Woodall, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

ATAC for Trade in Animals and Animal Products:

  • Kent Bacus, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
  • Cassandra Kuball, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative
  • Michael Schumpp, Meat Institute

ATAC for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds:

ATAC for Trade in Sweeteners and Sweetener Products:

  • Casey Bean, American Sugar Alliance
  • Jennifer Cervantes, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
  • Jonathan Taylor, Sucro Limited

USDA’s Mission

The USDA is working to transform America’s food system, focusing on:

  • Building resilient local and regional food systems
  • Ensuring fairer markets for producers
  • Expanding climate-smart practices
  • Making historic investments in rural infrastructure and clean energy.

For more information about USDA initiatives, visit USDA.gov.


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