Under Secretary Ibach's Letter to Stakeholders

Dear Stakeholders,

It’s been just over a year since I joined Secretary Perdue’s team as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.  When I first walked through USDA’s doors, I could never have imagined how many diverse, important, and complex issues would cross my desk. Through team work, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to Do Right, we at USDA have worked to address these challenges and deliver solutions to our customers and stakeholders across the country.   Today, I’m pleased to share with you a press release and an accomplishment report highlighting the customer-focused results the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) achieved in 2018.  

The past twelve months have provided many opportunities to fulfill Secretary Perdue’s primary charge to ensure that USDA programs are delivered efficiently, effectively, and with integrity and a focus on customer service.  We have accomplished some incredible things over the past year. We have launched new initiatives and reduced a range of duplicative or unnecessary regulatory burdens. We also achieved almost every one of our first-year goals, including the completion of an action plan for animal disease traceability, the development of a conceptual framework for USDA’s biotechnology regulations, and the eradication of the pink bollworm.  

As we’ve worked through many challenging issues, it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with farmers and ranchers from so many vital agricultural industries.  Throughout my travels, I have had the good fortune to meet so many dedicated producers, and I have heard firsthand the important role that APHIS plays in your lives.  The work we do, day in and day out, is committed to making sure your operations are healthy and profitable.  

Looking forward, we will keep pressing full-steam ahead, and we are ready to accomplish even more.  I will be listening to our many stakeholders and calling on our great team here at USDA to help create new Agency goals and again deliver achievements that benefit American agriculture in 2019.

 

Sincerely,

 

Greg Ibach

Under Secretary

Marketing and Regulatory Programs