April 21/Targeted News Service -- TAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on April 14 announced the appointment of Michael T. Scuse as USDA's Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS). Scuse's primary responsibility will be for the domestic programs within the FFAS mission area.
FFAS includes the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Risk Management Agency (RMA). FAS works to expand existing markets and build new markets for U.S. products, improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture and provide food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries. FSA and RMA help to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business as they face the uncertainties of weather and markets. These two agencies deliver commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance, as well as crop insurance, programs that help improve the stability and strength of the domestic agricultural economy.