Throwing agriculture a bone?

Now that it appears that border inspectors won't be headed back to USDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced a new position to help with oversight of CBP's agricultural mission. We'll be looking for insight from Joel Nelsen, United and others about this development.

From a CBP news release:

CBP Creates New Position to Protect U.S. Agriculture

WASHINGTON—To improve oversight of the agricultural mission U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has established the new position of Deputy Executive Director, Agriculture Operational Oversight. Kevin Harriger, who has twenty-six years experience in protecting American agriculture with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and with CBP has been appointed to the position.

Mr. Harriger is in charged with ensuring a more consistent application of agriculture inspection policy across all U.S. ports of entry. He will be the primary point of contact for Joint Agency Task Force coordination issues for the Department of Homeland Security, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and stakeholders. His other responsibilities include:

Conduct outreach to Federal and State officials on agriculture border inspection issues

Oversee the joint CBP/APHIS Agriculture Quality Assurance program

Monitor agricultural performance measures for risk and efficiency

Ensure compliance with all agricultural program directives and policies

Ensure agriculture specialists have the equipment and resources they need to perform the agriculture inspection function

Prior to assuming his duties as Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Harriger was the Director of Policy and Planning for CBP’s agriculture programs. He also served as a special assistant to the Executive Director of Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison Office implementing and coordinating agriculture related projects and training.

Mr. Harriger was transferred from APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) to CBP at the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. He started his career with APHIS as a PPQ officer in 1981. Previous to his position in CBP, he was the PPQ Assistant Regional Director in Raleigh, North Carolina.