Menu

USDA Deputy Secretary Torres Small visits UW-Madison

On Friday, April 12, USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the UW-Madison campus as part of a multi-week college tour highlighting career opportunities for the next generation of farmers, foresters, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Her visit included stops at the D.C. Smith Greenhouse, a discussion with campus leaders whose divisions receive USDA funding, and a session with UW undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in agriculture, public policy and leadership.

“Rural America is hard at work, producing the food, fiber, and fuel our nation relies on,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small. “President Biden’s historic investment in rural America supports that work across the country through real-life solutions to decades-old challenges—expanding access to high speed internet, updating waste-water infrastructure, and increasing competition through more and better markets. USDA is committed to investing in farmers to promote growth and build a stronger, more sustainable economy for people in rural communities throughout Wisconsin and nationwide.”

In a session with more than 30 UW students from a wide variety of agricultural, scientific, policy and business disciplines, she discussed approaches to changing the food and agriculture sector to build an agriculture food system that is sustainable and equitable. Student also raised questions on a variety of topics, including USDA energy, food assistance and export programs.

D.C. Smith Greenhouse Manager Johanna Oosterwyk points out tomato plants growing vertically in one of the teaching greenhouses. Pictured (top to bottom) Wisconsin DATCP Assistant Secretary Mike Strigel, CALS Den Glenda Gillaspy, Oosterwyk, USDA Deputy Secretary Torres Small and Julie Lassa, USDA Rural Development director for Wisconsin.
Patrick Krysan, professor and chair, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, discusses his department’s many connections to USDA, including close collaborations with the USDA Agricultural Research Services’ Vegetable Research Crop Unit, which is co-located in the plant sciences building, and a number of significant USDA research grants supporting research by professors in his department. Pictured left to right: Patrick Krysan, USDA’s Torres Small and DATCP’s Mike Strigel
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small (standing) speaks with several dozen UW students in Steenbock Library’s BioCommons.
USDA delegation visit to the D.C. Smith greenhouses. Pictured right to left: Isaac Zaman, Allen Centennial Gardens Horticulturist, Johanna Oosterwyk, DC Smith Greenhouse Manager, Julie Lassa, USDA Rural Development Director for Wisconsin, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small, Wisconsin DATCP Assistant Secretary Mike Strigel, Dean Glenda Gillaspy and Gene Schriefer, State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin