Prez to nominate MSU alum

STARKVILLE, Miss. - President Trump announced July 16 that he plans to nominate Mississippi State University alumnus Scott Hutchins for the position of Undersecretary of Agriculture for research, education and economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Hutchins received his master’s degree in entomology from MSU in 1983. He is a leader of integrated field sciences for Corteva Agriscience; and an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska. Hutchins has also earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn (Ala.) University and a doctorate from Iowa State University. Trump’s nomination awaits confirmation by the Senate Agriculture Committee and full Senate. According to the USDA, an undersecretary for research, education and economics oversees the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Economic Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Agricultural Research Service. MSU is a higher-education research partner of USDA. According to a National Science Foundation analysis, MSU was in the Top 20 colleges and universities receiving USDA research funding in FY 2016. (Source: MSU 07/18/18)