Former Senate Ag Committee chief economist John Newton is joining Terrain, where he will lead a team of economists and analysts. Newton worked for Ranking Member John Boozman, R-Ark., for three years, after leading economics at the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Milk Producers Federation. Terrain serves AgCountry Farm Credit Services, American AgCredit, Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit with analysis of a range of agricultural sectors — "from cattle and corn to wine, dairy and tree nuts — as well as the macroeconomy and its impact on rural America,” Terrain said Monday.
Jamila Thompson was appointed chief of staff for United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Thompson was the office's acting chief of staff and senior adviser. Before joining USTR, she had worked in Democratic congressional offices since 2001.
The Office of the USTR appointed Jon Hurst as special adviser for agriculture. He had been special assistant to Doug McKalip, USTR's chief agricultural negotiator, and as a special assistant at the USDA. Hurst also worked on the 2020 Biden for President campaign in the Carolinas. 
Chris Hill, Conservation Lands Foundation
The Conservation Lands Foundation tapped Chris Hill as CEO. With more than a decade of experience as an environmental lobbyist, Hill served as the first chief conservation officer at the Sierra Club and led the organization’s legacy campaigns on lands conservation, water and wildlife.
Darryl Blakey joined BASF as manager of government affairs. He was with FMC as an associate director of U.S. government affairs. Blakey was a policy adviser at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and worked for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and House Agriculture Committee.
The World Shipping Council appointed Tamekia Flack as director of U.S. government relations, leading safety, security and environmental programs. Flack was chief counsel and deputy administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.
The Environmental Council of the States tapped Jon Niermann as the group’s next president. He currently chairs the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The U.S. Grains Council transitioned staff from the Washington headquarters to international offices. Sierra Richey moved to Latin America as regional programs and special projects manager. She was manager of global programs based in Washington. Caleb Floss is the new Southeast Asia and Oceania regional trade manager. He has overseen operations in Asia as a manager of global programs from headquarters since 2023. Lauren Sura will join the council’s global ethanol team as a coordinator after holding a temporary role earlier this year.
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Emma Scott was appointed director of the food and agriculture clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School. Scott was an instructor and associate director at the Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic focused on food system sustainability, farm bill policy, food system labor and USDA program equity. She also led the Mississippi Delta Project and was an attorney-fellow at the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation focused on representing farmworkers under the H-2A visa program. 
Emma Scott, Vermont Law
USDA has made four appointments to the United Sorghum Checkoff Program’s board for three-year terms beginning in December. Newly appointed members include: Macey Mueller of Kansas, Kimberly Baldwin of Kansas, Kevin Pshigoda of Texas and Dale Stoltzfus of Pennsylvania.
Jennifer Clever started a detail position as senior adviser for agricultural affairs at the Department of State’s East Asian and Pacific Bureau. Clever has held an array of positions in USDA’s Foreign Ag Service, including roles in Spain, China, Japan and Washington.
Carrie Masker-King was promoted to senior director of board communications at Dairy Management Inc. She has been with DMI since 2023, recently as a director. Masker-King previously spent more than eight years with the National Pork Board in sustainability and communications positions and worked in public relations at Rooster, an advertising agency.
Brian Diffell launched a boutique lobbying firm – Ridge View Strategies – focused on international trade, supply chains, tax policy and telecommunications. Diffell was previously an investor at Berg Capital Group, partner at the Washington Tax and Public Policy Group and legislative director for Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
Mutiny Crop Performance added Kirby Green as a national sales manager. He has worked as an agriculture educator and on staff with Monsanto and Bayer. Green will be based in Kentucky.
Steelee Fischbacher was appointed executive director of the Texas Wheat Producers Board. She has been with the group since 2008 in a communications role. Fischbacher was raised on a cotton farm in West Texas and is an alumna of both Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association added Olivia Hanlon as a communications manager. She worked four years as a natural resources specialist for Iowa State Extension and Outreach. She will focus on the Iowa Pork Producer magazine, news releases and managing the website.
Jonna Vanderslice joined McAfee & Taft as a corporate attorney in the energy and natural resources group. She will focus on oil and gas exploration and production, midstream and transportation companies, and developers of renewable and sustainable energy projects. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Brad Doyle, Solutions from the Land Arkansas soybean, wheat and rice farmer Brad Doyle was elected to join 12 other farmers on the Solutions from the Land board. Doyle was a farmer envoy, representing the organization at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. He owns and operates Eagle Seed LLC and Eagle Research LLC, where he implements climate-smart practices in northeast Arkansas.
John Strom left his position as senior counsel on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He will now practice law and lobby for Foley & Lardner, focused on energy.
Carl Atkin-House was promoted to head of natural capital strategy at Climate Asset Management in London. He was senior investment manager at the asset management firm.
Cara Barrett was promoted to senior manager of professional education at Integra LifeSciences. Barrett worked at the Renewable Fuels Association and ACell Inc.
Karis Gutter, head of government and industry affairs at Corteva, is the newest member of the National 4-H Council board of trustees. Gutter has held appointments at USDA and as a legislative director and deputy chief of staff on Capitol Hill. The 4-H programs affect more than 6 million young people in every county and parish in the U.S. each year.
Dennis Beesigamukama, a postdoctoral fellow at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, Kenya, was given the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug Field Research and Application award. Beesigamukama was recognized for developing low-cost technologies that recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich, insect-composted organic fertilizers. The announcement was made by 2021 World Food Prize Laureate Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted.
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