July 12, 2013
Honorable Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
United States Senate
328-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable Thad Cochran, Ranking Member
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
United States Senate
328-A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran:

The undersigned organizations write to express our strong support for the nomination of Krysta Harden as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In her four years at the Department, Ms. Harden has demonstrated an in-depth understanding of and genuine concern for the varied interests of USDA’s many constituencies. She has shown even-handed judgment in working with diverse stakeholders, and she has been an integral member of a very effective policy team at the Department.

Ms. Harden has fully justified the confidence placed in her by the Committee and the full Senate when she was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Congressional Relations in 2009. Her value to the Department was recognized by Secretary Vilsack when he named her as his Chief of Staff in 2011. Before joining USDA, Ms. Harden served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts. Previously, she represented the American Soybean Association in Washington and served her native state of Georgia on the staff of Congressman Charles Hatcher.

We are very pleased that the President has selected Ms. Harden to serve the Administration and USDA’s many constituents in the position of Deputy Secretary, and we look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with her.

We respectfully ask that you approve the nomination of Krysta Harden for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

Sincerely yours,
Agriculture Retailers Association
American Association of Crop Insurers
American Beverage Association
American Coalition for Ethanol
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Farmland Trust

American Feed Industry Association
American Forest & Paper Association
American Forest Foundation
American Forests
American Horse Council
American Loggers Council
American Meat Association
American Mushroom Institute
American Sheep Industry Association
American Society of Agronomy
American Society for Nutrition
American Society of Plant Biologists
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
Animal Health Institute
Arkansas Forestry Association
Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc.
Audubon
Biomass Thermal Energy Council
Biotechnology Industry Organization
C2I, LLC
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Grape and Tree Fruit League
Center for Rural Affairs
CoBank
Congressional Hunger Center
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Crop Insurance Professionals Association
CropLife America
Crop Science Society of America
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited
Empire State Forest Products Association
Environmental Defense Fund
Fair Food Network
Farm Credit Council
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association
Food Marketing Institute
Food Research and Action Center
Forest Landowners Association
Forest Resources Association
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Georgia Poultry Federation

Grocery Manufacturers Association
Growth Energy
Giustina Resources
Hancock Timber Resources Group
Hardwood Federation
Housing Assistance Council
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Izaak Walton League of America
KCE Public Affairs Associates
Louisiana Forestry Association
Mississippi Land Trust
Mississippi River Trust
Montana Logging Association
National Alliance of Forest Owners
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils
National Association of State Foresters
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Biodiesel Board
National Chicken Council
National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research
National Corn Growers Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Grape Cooperative
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Potato Council
National Renderers Association
National Rural Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Rural Water Association
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
National Turkey Federation
National Wild Turkey Federation
National Wildlife Federation
National Woodland Owners Association
New England Forestry Foundation
North Carolina Forestry Association
NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association
Oregon Small Woodland Association
Pellet Fuels Institute
Plum Creek

Pollinator Partnership
Potlatch
Produce Marketing Association
Rain and Hail, LLC
Rayonier
Renewable Fuels Association
Resource Management Service, LLC
Ruffed Grouse Society
Snack Foods Association
Society of American Florists
Society of American Foresters
Soil Science Society of America
Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Sunkist Growers
Supporters of Agricultural Research
Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.
Tennessee Forestry Association
Texas Forestry Association
The Lyme Timber Company
The Nature Conservancy
The Trust for Public Land
Timberland Investment Resources, LLC
United Egg Producers
United Fresh Produce Association
US Apple Association
US Canola Association
US Cattlemen's Association
US Dry Bean Council
US Dry Pea & Lentil Council
US Rice Producers Association
USA Rice Federation
Vermont Woodlands Association
Virginia Forest Products Association
Virginia Forestry Association
Washington Forest Protection Association
Western Peanut Growers Association
Weyerhaeuser
Wildlife Mississippi
cc. Members, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate