OCA Editor’s Note: Wolff has long been rumored to be on the Obama Administration’s short list for a post at the USDA. First, it was USDA Secretary, more recently, a food safety post. The Organic Consumers Association opposes his appointment because of his promotion of genetically modified bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and his attempt to stop dairies from making labeling claims that inform consumers that they don’t use rBGH. Please write Secretaries Vilsack and Sebelius, Co-Chairs of the White House Working Group on Food Safety, and urge them not to give Wolff a position.No, Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Dennis Wolff isn’t resigning to take a top-level USDA job in Washington, D.C.
He quickly confirmed that last week during Ag Progress Days. But his
unexpected resignation is more likely, suggest ag leaders, due to sheer
frustration over decimation of agriculture’s funding and the
commonwealth’s marathon budget battle.
Numerous
department bureaus have been shut down or stripped of employees.
Programs and services started and/or expanded under Wolff’s
administration remain unfunded due to three political entities –
Governor Edward Rendell and the arguing Democratic and Republican
leaderships.
Rendell
announced today that Wolff’s resignation will be effective Sept. 12. He
also announced that Deputy Secretary Russell Redding of
Adams
County
would be nominated as the new Ag Department secretary.
“
Redding
is one of the most respected individuals in
Pennsylvania
agriculture today,” says the Governor. “I’m confident that Russell is the right person for this position.”
Redding
has been deputy ag secretary since 1995, and was named executive deputy
secretary in 2003, overseeing all ag department operations. His
nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Prior to joining the department,
Redding
served as an ag policy advisor and executive assistant to U.S. Senator
Harris Wofford. He was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania
FFA
for more than 30 years of service to the agricultural education organization.