Mike Schmidt is a Senior Advisor for Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar at the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. Schmidt rejoined the Committee from USDA in 2023, where he most recently served as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary.  Schmidt previously worked for the Committee as Senior Professional Staff during the 2018 Farm Bill and led the commodity and crop insurance teams. Schmidt held several positions at USDA in the Obama Administration, including Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs in the Farm Service Agency. At USDA, Schmidt was also responsible for implementation of 2014 Farm Bill programs related to commodities, dairy, conservation, and risk protection. Schmidt is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has a master’s degree from the University College London.