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U.S.D.A. Nominee Draws Fire & Praise

Agricultural Research Service U.S.D.A.
At Salinas, California, ARS agronomist Sharon Benzen displays test-plot-grown broccoli that will be used to determine pesticide residue levels. Photo by Scott Bauer.

President Donald Trump's nomination ofSam Clovisfor Undersecretary of Agriculture, with responsibility for science and education has drawn criticism from some members of the Senate Agricultural Committee, and others who question his qualifications for the post.  However, 22 agricultural organizations and commodity groups have endorsed the nomination.  The concern is that Clovis does not have the qualifications for the position, as specified by the 2008 Farm Bill.