Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today congratulated Terry Brunner, his long-time state director, on his appointment by President Obama to lead the New Mexico office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Administration.  Bingaman recommended Brunner for the position. 

“Terry has served New Mexicans for many years as the director of my state offices.   I know he will do a terrific job continuing his public service as director of New Mexico’s Rural Development Administration office,” Bingaman said. 

Rural Development administers and manages over 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs as laid out by Congress through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of over $114 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

Rural Development administers and manages over 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs as laid out by Congress through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of over $114 billion in loans and loan guarantees.

Bingaman said he is pleased to announce that Greg Bloom, who has been working for Bingaman in Las Cruces, has been promoted to state director. 

Bingaman also applauded President Obama’s appointment of veteran USDA employee Salomon Ramirez as state executive director for the Farm Service Agency.

“Salomon Ramirez brings a wealth of experience to this important appointment,” Bingaman said. 

USDA's Farm Services Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Some of the agency's efforts include facilitating income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs, providing operating loans for the procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as offering ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm. FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs.