USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey

This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey. After an extended delay from nomination to confirmation, Northey, a fourth generation farmer and three term Secretary of Agriculture for his home state is on the job in Washington guiding the USDA’s efforts for farm production and conservation programs. Northey discusses Secretary Perdue’s reorganized plan for department programming and how the consolidation will impact farm customers and county offices across the country. Northey outlines the department’s efforts to upgrade technology to expand ways farmers can interact with Washington and his goals for better coordination among government agencies.