Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Ray Mobley, FAMUassociate professor, Reappointed to the USDA Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

Florida A&M University’s Ray Mobley was reappointed to the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner appointed 20 members to serve on the committee. Seven of the appointments are new; the other 13 are reappointments.

Mobley is an associate professor and coordinator of Animal Science and Research programs in the FAMU animal-science department and serves as an extension veterinarian.

"I was pleased to meet with committee members and I appreciate their work to strengthen support of beginning farmers and ranchers," said Conner. "As the Administration's proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill demonstrate, helping beginning farmers and ranchers is a priority. I look forward to working together with this diverse, skilled team to build a strong future for our next generation of farmers and ranchers."

This committee identifies ways to increase participation between federal and state programs to provide joint financing for beginning producers. Committee members also suggest agricultural opportunities that will help beginning farmers and ranchers.

“I was proud, delighted, and humbled to be reappointed,” said Mobley. “The competition is keen to be appointed to this committee, and to the best of my knowledge, there is only one additional black minority to be appointed to the committee.”

Mobley said the opportunity to have a voice in agricultural policy at the national level is what initially interested him in the committee.

“I believe that minorities need to take advantage of the opportunity to influence issues that impact us,” he said.

Mobley is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Florida and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He received the bachelor’s degree in animal science from FAMU, a master of public health from Tulane University and a doctor of veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University, and the MPH. He is a certified trainer instructor for the Hazard Analysis Critical Control point program and has conducted numerous food safety workshops. His area of concentration is herd health and food safety.

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