Menu

During the Young Leaders trip to Washington D.C. Sept. 1 to 3, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley told the group that food and agriculture are key mechanisms of terrorist threats.

Moseley met with the group at the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices around a table made for former President Ronald Reagan’s use during the G7 Summit in Williamsburg, Va., in 1983.

As a result of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he told the farmers "All of us have our own responsibility" to provide a solution and protection to terrorist threats. He admonished the farmers to make sure their operations are secure.

"What happens to the food chain if we have an attack?" he said. Farmers are the first line of defense.

Moseley also shared the challenges USDA faces in trying to meet the needs of farmers from all states who have different interests and viewpoints, including differing views by commodity and ethnicity. "If you look at that, you’ll begin to see the complexities" the department faces, he said.

In addition, USDA serves constituencies other than farmers. He said one-half of the USDA budget is allocated to the food stamp program, but serving agriculture is the dominant theme of the department.

He said change occurs in Washington because of what farmers need and complimented the leaders on their initiative to come to Washington to listen, learn and participate. "That is a rare freedom. It’s easy for us to take it for granted."

Caption: Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley addressed the threats to agriculture during the OFBF Young Leaders trip to Washington D.C. in early September.