USDA welcomed Martin Barbre as the new Risk Management Agency (RMA) Administrator during a ceremony held Monday, April 30, 2018. He was officially sworn in by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"I'm excited to be here," said Mr. Barbre prior to the ceremony. "Acting Administrator Heather Manzano, RMA's leaders, and especially employees, have done an outstanding job ensuring our country's producers were taken care of through many challenges this past year. We will build on the achievements of RMA's dedicated teams and continue improving services for our customers."

 

Mr. Barbre brings a wealth of experience from the world of agriculture. He is the owner and operator of Chestin Farms, with 6,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and grain sorghum. He is the former president of the National Corn Growers Association, member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, and was appointed by Secretary Perdue to be a member of USDA's Illinois Farm Service Agency State Committee until his appointment as RMA Administrator.

Members of RMA had the opportunity to meet the new Administrator on Tuesday at a meet-and-greet held in his office in Washington D.C. He talked about how important Federal crop insurance is to families in rural America.

"My son had been farming for eight or nine years when severe drought hit in 2012. Day after day he was operating the combine and seeing little in return. I could see the anxiety he was going through," Mr. Barbre explains. "When the adjuster showed him that Federal crop insurance would cover much of his losses from the drought, it took a big weight off his shoulders. I know how vital RMA's mission is to the people we serve. That's why I'm here."

Contact Information

For more information, email RMA Public Affairs.