Trump nominates Ibach for USDA trade under secretary
Greg Ibach, a Nebraska native and former U.S. Department of Agriculture official, has been nominated to serve as USDA’s next undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs.
President Donald Trump submitted Ibach’s nomination to the Senate. If confirmed, Ibach would oversee USDA efforts to expand international markets for U.S. agricultural products through the department’s Foreign Agricultural Service and other trade-related programs.
Ibach previously served as USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs from 2017 to 2021 during Trump’s first administration. Before joining USDA, he served as director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture from 2005 to 2017, making him the state’s longest-serving agriculture director.
A lifelong farmer and rancher from Sumner, Nebraska, Ibach has experience at both the state and federal levels.
“I am thrilled President Trump has nominated Greg Ibach to serve as our next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. “Greg is a lifelong producer and proven leader who knows American agriculture from the farm gate to the global marketplace.”
Agricultural organizations welcomed the nomination, citing Ibach’s previous work on international trade and market development.
The National Association of Wheat Growers said Ibach understands the importance of programs that can help U.S. wheat producers.
“Wheat growers rely on programs like the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development Program, and Foreign Food Assistance Program to expand markets and help get U.S. wheat to customers around the world,” NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer said. “Greg understands the importance of these programs and has a proven record of working to expand market opportunities for American producers.”
NAWG urged the Senate to advance Ibach’s nomination.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation also expressed support for the nomination. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the organization has worked with Ibach for many years and described him as a strong advocate for agricultural trade at the state and federal levels.
“He has seen firsthand the returns that exports deliver for the U.S. ag economy and understands the importance of expanding global demand for U.S. products,” Halstrom said.
The undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs is responsible for USDA’s international trade and food assistance activities. The Foreign Agricultural Service works to create conditions that support agricultural trade and operates programs focused on market access, trade promotion and international agricultural development.
Ibach would succeed Luke Lindberg, who has been named executive director of the United Nations World Food Program.
Ibach’s nomination now moves to the Senate, where the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee is expected to consider the nomination before a potential vote by the full Senate.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
