Articles by Lydia Johnson

The Westlands Water District board certified the election for five members to its board of directors. Ryan Ferguson, a farmer for 20 years and the 2021-2022 board president, rejoined the board as a newly elected member. Four other individuals were reelected including: William Bourdeau, founder and CEO of Bourdeau Farms based in Coalinga; Jeff Fortune, a second generation Westlands farmer; Frank Coelho, a board member since 1991 and third generation Five Points region farmer; and Jim Anderson, a fifth-generation Westlands Water District farmer. 

The world’s largest commodity trader plans to slash about 8,000 of its global 164,000-person workforce as part of a sweeping effort to cut costs and restructure. 

Colorado farmer-owned cooperative ProEgg tapped Greg Bilobran as CEO. The U.S. Grains Council hired Alicia Koch as director of global ethanol export development. Jennifer Warren departed from the National Sorghum Producers.

Faith Mabry, communications director for Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., left her  position. National Oilseed Processors Association executive vice president of government affairs David Hovermale will retire at the end of the year.  

House Ag Committee member Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., was elected chairman of the Western Caucus. He succeeds Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash. Naturipe promoted Jim Roberts to president. USDA appointed four new members to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board with three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, including Jan Hupp and Kari Puffer of Oregon. 

President-elect Donald Trump is setting up a cabinet of unusually diverse views and backgrounds that together could have a far-reaching impact on the food and agriculture sectors. Farm groups will be counting on his pick to lead USDA, Brooke Rollins, to be an advocate for ag within an administration. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum could be a key ally on energy policy.

Mike Spier, current vice president of overseas operations at U.S. Wheat Associates, was elected as the group’s next president and CEO by the board of directors. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced staff changes. Naturipe promoted Jim Roberts to president. 

The Congressional Hunger Center named Katharine Emerson, chief of staff for World Food Program USA, as the new chairwoman. The American Agricultural Law Association welcomed its new president-elect, Ashley Ellixson of Arizona, and directors, Chelsea Good of Kansas and Kale Van Bruggen of Minnesota.

Agri-Pulse’s Lydia Johnson caught up with California Rep. Jim Costa Thursday night to talk about his challenge to Georgia Rep. David Scott for the top Democratic slot on the House Ag Committee. Costa repeatedly stressed that he could be a “strong voice” for the minority.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., will challenge current House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott, D-Ga., for the top Democratic role on the panel. 

Key lawmakers are working on a two-pronged approach to help row crop producers who’ve been hit by the downturn in commodity markets. A lot of work remains to be done, but the goal is to attach some kind of ag relief to a one-year farm bill extension in December.   

The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition hired Megan Terry as executive director. California Gov. Gavin Newson appointed Hernan Hernandez of Bakersfield and Rolston St. Hilaire of Clovis to the State Board of Food and Agriculture.

Paul Lewis is the new vice president of food safety standards and regulatory compliance at the International Fresh Produce Association. CropLife America added Victoria Yell as a science policy fellow.