Appropriations panel questions Agriculture Department trade-office travel, inflation and ombudsman funding

Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Government Operations Division pressed North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goring on the department's trade‑office travel, inflationary operating requests and a reorganization of ombudsman funding as they reviewed the department's budget materials.

Commissioner Doug Goring told the committee he has participated in seven out‑of‑country trade missions in the past 18 months and that department staff have attended about 13–14 domestic marketing trade shows over the same period. "I believe I've been on 7 out of the country trade missions in the last 18 months," Goring said, and described how the department vets markets with the U.S. Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and other partners before committing resources.

Members asked for more granular documentation.…