Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/24/18

Senate Agriculture today will hold a hearing on the nominations of James Hubbard, to be USDA undersecretary for natural resources and environment, and Dan Berkovitz, the administration's pick for a Democratic commissioner slot on the CFTC.

Hubbard is a 30-year veteran of the Colorado Forest Service. He worked at the Interior Department and served as director of the Office of Wildland Fire Coordination and was deputy chief for state and private forestry at the USDA Forest Service.

Berkovitz, a partner at law firm WilmerHale, was general counsel at the derivatives regulator from 2009 to 2013. He was widely expected to be named the nominee for the Democratic post, which the White House announced in April. The term expires in April 2023.

Hubbard's background: More than 150 forestry and agriculture groups support him being confirmed for the role of overseeing the management, conservation and protection of the nation's forests and lands. In a letter to Roberts and committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the coalition called Hubbard a "career public servant with an impeccable record, and a clear dedication to both forest management and conservation."

Slow-go on Perdue's USDA leadership buildout: The hearing comes as several USDA nominees are caught up in the Senate — a delay that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has lamented in multiple public statements. The White House's picks for major leadership roles at the department — Mindy Brashears, the nominee for undersecretary for food safety, and Scott Hutchins, for undersecretary for research, education and economics — are still waiting to receive a confirmation hearing. (Brashears was selected in May while Hutchins' selection was announced just last week).

The backlog doesn't end there. Naomi Earp was selected to be assistant secretary for USDA's Civil Rights division in February, but there's been no movement on her nomination. And Stephen Vaden, the nominee to be USDA's general counsel, has been waiting the longest: His selection was announced way back in November 2017. He's been serving in a deputy capacity since March, however.