RICHMOND
The Trump Administration recently appointed Nivin Elgohary as the new State Executive Director for the USDA Virginia Farm Service Agency. Elgohary will join the Virginia FSA team on Monday, Nov. 27.

Elgohary, a Virginia native, has served rural America since she arrived in 1999 at USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. As the senior executive heading the RUS-Electric Program, she led policy development for programs affecting 42 million electric consumers across the country and managed a $42 billion loan portfolio consisting of 650 borrowers in 46 states. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President — Electric, Water, and Community Facilities at CoBank, a national cooperative bank serving America’s rural infrastructure needs.

The Farm Service Agency serves farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs. The agency offers farmers a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity and disaster programs. FSA continues to conserve natural resources and also provides credit to agricultural producers who are unable to receive private, commercial credit, including special emphasis on beginning, underserved and women farmers and ranchers.

Under the direction of Secretary Sonny Perdue, the USDA will always be facts-based and data-driven, with a decision-making mindset that is customer-focused. Secretary Perdue leads the USDA with four guiding principles: to maximize the ability of American agriculture to create jobs, sell foods and fiber, and feed and clothe the world; to prioritize customer service for the taxpayers; to ensure that our food supply is safe and secure; and to maintain good stewardship of the natural resources that provide us with our miraculous bounty. And understanding that we live in a global economy where trade is of top importance, Secretary Perdue has pledged to be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.