For Immediate Release
March 15, 2013

Contact: Susan Prolman
202-547-5754, sprolman@sustainableagriculture.net

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition comment on Merrigan Resignation

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan has finished four very solid years as second in command at the US Department of Agriculture. Over the years, she has built an impressive record of accomplishment, particularly with respect to the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, the National Organic Program, and beginning farmer and rancher issues.  In trying circumstances, she also managed the USDA budget process with finesse, including in the implementation of difficult automatic budget cuts, which are currently impacting all government agencies.

Deputy Secretary Merrigan has been a lifelong champion of sustainable agriculture.  We wish her the very best through May, when she completes her USDA service.  Even more, we look forward to following her career beyond this, which undoubtedly will include indispensable service to the sustainable agriculture movement.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities.

###