Robert Bonnie Confirmed as Under Secretary of Agriculture

The U.S. Senate confirmed Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As Under Secretary, Bonnie will oversee the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency and FPAC Business Center. He will also manage the USDA’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program.

The U.S. Senate voted 76-19 to confirm Bonnie on November 16.

“Mr. Bonnie is a proven leader on working lands agriculture issues with extensive experience and knowledge,” says National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Mike Seyfert.

“He is widely recognized as a hardworking, solutions-oriented public servant and NGFA looks forward to working with him in his new role.”

NGFA and dozens of other agricultural groups supported Bonnie’s nomination in a July 21 letter to USDA and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders, noting that he is “uniquely qualified” to lead USDA’s farm production and conservation mission area “due to his expertise in working lands approaches to conservation and voluntary incentive-based climate and conservation practices for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and landowners.”

The position oversees a wide variety of USDA farm and conservation programs. Bonnie currently serves as deputy chief of staff and senior advisor for climate at USDA. He previously served as undersecretary for natural resources and environment during the second term of the Obama administration, overseeing the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He also served as senior adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for environment and climate change during Obama’s first term.