— Editor's Roundup —
USDA people in the news

Hunt Shipman was named deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, focusing on commodity and farm loan programs as well as crop insurance.

From January 2001 until his appointment to this position Shipman served as acting deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services. Before joining USDA he worked as a legislative assistant to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) from 1997- 2001, concentrating on agricultural, environmental, and foreign policy issues as well as appropriations for USDA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Departments of Interior and State.

From 1995-97 Shipman served as a professional staff member on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, within the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. As a legislative assistant to Cochran from 1992-95, he focused on issues associated with natural resources, environment, food and drug regulation, and forestry, as well as appropriations for the Departments of Interior and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. During 1992 he worked as a graduate assistant to the dean of agriculture and home economics at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss.

A native of Dyersburg, Tenn., Shipman holds a B.S. degree in agribusiness from Mississippi State University.

Tom Grau, the previous deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, held that position from April 1999 until January 2001, and is now the administrator of the Business Development Division with the Des Moines-based Iowa Department of Economic Development, which coordinates all business development and international trade for the state of Iowa. •