On Monday morning, Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach was sworn in as USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

At the ceremony were Congressman Steve King from Iowa, Congressman Don Bacon from Nebraska, along with Perdue and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts.

"Greg really has done a fantastic job as Director of Agriculture for the State of Nebraska," Ricketts said.

Ibach has served as Director of NDA since 2005, and worked as Deputy Director for over six years before that. In his time as Director of Agriculture for Nebraska, Ricketts noted Ibach has traveled to 28 different countries to promote Nebraska ag products and open markets for Nebraska agriculture.

This includes advocating for the opening of U.S. beef to the Chinese market – in June, when the first shipment of U.S. beef was sent to China in 14 years, it was a Nebraska company that exported the beef.

But it also includes working to expand agriculture in Nebraska, Ricketts added.

"Under Greg's leadership, the Department of Agriculture has implemented the Livestock Friendly Program, and 43 of our counties have adopted that program to let them know that they're open for business for livestock development," Ricketts said. "Greg has also put in place the Certified Beef from Nebraska program, helping brand our Nebraska beef, growing our markets, helping consumers understand we've got the highest quality products in the world."

Ricketts also noted Ibach's work with various agencies, including the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Economic Development in helping Costco choose Fremont, Neb. as the site for their state-of-the-art poultry processing plant.

"The USDA and Secretary Perdue could not have picked a better person to help grow agriculture for our entire country, just the way Greg has done it here in Nebraska," Ricketts said.

"We went right to the heartland in selecting two people that I think come from an authentic perspective," Perdue said, referring to Ibach and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, who was nominated to fill the role of USDA Undersecretary of Farm Production and Conservation. "When I met with them, it was so clear they were not bureaucrats but authentic agriculturists. They learn how to get things done within a bureaucracy and within state governments, yet they maintain that dirt-under-the-fingernails agriculture heart. We've come to the heartland to pick out people with a heart for agriculture."

Perdue also expressed frustration that Northey would not be sworn in to his nominated post this morning, and with the slow process within the U.S. Senate to confirm top posts at USDA and other departments.

"I think that's very, very unfortunate, and we hope to have that resolved as soon as possible. It's the end of October, and we need to get people to go to work," said Perdue.

Gov. Ricketts noted his office has already received applications from candidates from Nebraska to fill Ibach's role within NDA. "As we get those candidates in, we'll start reviewing them," said Ricketts, adding that while it isn't certain when the role of NDA Director will be filled, "we've got a number of great candidates who've already expressed an interest. So I'm sure we'll find somebody very qualified to take Greg's place. These are big shoes to fill."

"I'm a little bit excited, a little bit scared too of course, because it's new," said Ibach. "I'm excited for Secretary Perdue and the staff on-board already to background me and get me prepared to do a good job. Then we'll take a look at the tasks that are ahead of me and prioritize and get to work."