Agribusiness Critics Seek to Head Off Heitkamp’s USDA Prospects

Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), a possible pick to head the Agriculture Department under President-elect Joe Biden, should be ruled out for her ties to agribusiness corporations and fossil fuel interests, more than 150 environmental, social justice, and labor groups said.

The Center for Food Safety, Farmworker Justice, the Humane League and other advocacy organizations called Heitkamp “the wrong choice” for the job in a Tuesday letter to Biden and his transition team.

They point to past contributions to her congressional campaign from the fossil fuel industry and corporate giants, including Cargill Inc., Bayer AG, and Monsanto Co. ...