For better or worse most of these jobs aren't agriculture-specific. They're much more related to economic analysis and tax and trade issues.
These people's skill sets are in much higher demand in DC than in KC.
Yes - I should have read past the first sentence.
The two main “research” groups are economic research and NIFA, which hands out scientific research grants.
In Washington D.C., there is never a shortage of work for economists or cash distributors!
Then don’t call it the US Dept of Agriculture.
Agriculture means having to do with growing crops and animal husbandry.
If they are more concerned with economics, taxes, and trade, then call it the the “US Dept. of ECONOMICS, TAXES, and TRADE”.
OOPS, we have other Federal Bureaucracies that already do those jobs don’t we?
FIRE THEM ALL, except the real farmers.