Date set for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture hearing

May 08, 2023

Xochitl Torres Small will appear in front of the Senate Ag Committee on May 10

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

President Biden’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture will appear in front of a senate committee this week.

Xochitl Torres Small, the current under secretary for rural development, is scheduled to meet with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry on May 10 at 10:00 AM.

The senate ag committee announced the hearing date on May 3.

During the committee hearing, members will have opportunities to question Torres Small and make statements about her qualifications.

Questions can range from broad issues to state-specific topics and asking Torres Small to visit the state to experience the issue herself.

After the hearing, the committee can vote to report Torres Small’s nomination to the full Senate. At that point, she would only need a simple majority of senator support to be confirmed.

President Biden nominated Torres Small in February to replace Jewel Bronaugh, who announced her resignation in January to spend more time with her family.

Since the president announced Torres Small’s nomination, multiple farm groups have voiced support for her.

“Her dedication to public service and skilled administration of the USDA’s Rural Development mission makes her uniquely qualified for the role of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture,” says a March 23 letter signed by organizations including the American Farm Bureau, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and the National Pork Producers Council.

In April, the National Farmers Union penned its own letter supporting Torres Small’s nomination.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm