Purdue enjoys long history with
USDA
By Tom Campbell
When it comes to Purdue Agriculture people making an
impact on national policy, Jim Moseley is not alone.
J.B. Penn (PhD '73) was appointed in May to be undersecretary
for farm and foreign agricultural services, and President Bush recently
appointed Charles Conner (BS '80) special assistant for agricultural
trade and food.
While this may represent Purdue Agriculture's strongest
contingent in Washington since the 1970s, when Earl Butz headed the
USDA (Butz was Secretary of Agriculture from Dec. 2, 1971, to Oct. 4,
1976), Moseley says it represents just a portion of Purdue Agriculture's
political impact.
"Clearly, the tentacles of Purdue are wrapped around
the Department of Agriculture and other aspects of Washington, D.C.,"
Moseley says.
"I think it started 30 years ago in the ag economics
department with people like Butz, Don Paarlberg, Lowell Hardin and J.B.
Kohlmeyer, just to name a few. They were excellent policy people that
had an appreciation for politics. Those people set a standard that has
been very important to this city."
Moseley cites Paarlberg as having "as much influence
in ag policy in this country as anyone living today," and says
he is proud to be another link in the chain stretching from West Lafayette
to Washington.
But Moseley says there are others, working behind the
scenes, who also have an impact on agricultural policy.
"You could go down each department at Purdue and
find people who have made significant contributions," Moseley says.
"Otto Doering, for example, has made significant
contributions to the energy policy of this country that go far beyond
the Department of Agriculture."
Dean of Agriculture Vic Lechtenberg is a frequent visitor
to Washington, serving as chairman of the USDA's research advisory committee.
"He is playing a major role in terms of working
with the land-grant system and representing their research interests.
I've had many discussions with Vic, having him help us reach young scientists
who can help us work through all of the biosecurity issues we are facing
and turn that into a plus for everybody."
