USDA has appointed two former members of Congress to serve in senior staff positions. Former Iowa Representative Cindy Axne has been appointed Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity. Axne previously served as the U.S. House Representative for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District from 2019 to 2023. Former Arizona Rep. Tom O’Halleran has been appointed Senior Advisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Previously, O’Halleran served as the U.S. House Representative for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District from 2017 to 2023.Both were members of the House Agriculture Committee.
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council tabbed Traverse County farmer Tom Frisch as its chair during the organization’s June board meeting. Frisch replaces Bird Island farmer Joe Serbus, who stepped down after two years as chair.
Veteran agricultural educators Jim Morgan of Louisburg, Kansas and Deanna Schnuck of Boonville, Missouri have been selected by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City to receive the group’s Distinguished Service Award.
40 Square Cooperative Solutions is encouraging Minnesota’s statewide agribusiness community to cool off by visiting 40square.coop to complete a census form and learn about the organization’s affordable health plan options. Prospective plan participants can also email info@40square.coop to receive a quick rate estimate.
The National FFA Organization’s Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) will take place from June 6-July 22 at the Omni Shoreham, with six weeklong sessions for FFA members to choose from. More than 2,000 FFA members from throughout the country are expected to attend the 2023 conference, the second-largest student experience that National FFA hosts each year, only behind the National FFA Convention & Expo that draws more than 70,000 attendees.
American Farmland Trust released two new white papers that further illustrate its priorities to increase adoption of conservation practices in the next Farm Bill. These priorities include the creation of a federal match to help states and Tribes build up their soil health programs, and increased support for farmer-to-farmer education to accelerate adoption of conservation practices.
Farm Credit Administration Board Chairman and CEO Vincent Logan announced the selection of Maribel Duran as chief of staff for the Farm Credit Administration.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association announced a new Communications Manager, Emma Koehler. Koehler is a recent graduate from the University of Northern Iowa and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Media: Journalism. She also has a degree and background in Precision Agriculture.
