Articles by Lydia Johnson

Shoppers are more concerned about expenses for gas, housing, groceries and purchasing holiday gifts in 2024 than a year ago despite limited inflation, according to FMI: The Food Industry Association. 

The World Food Prize Foundation announced that former Iowa Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad will retire as its president Jan. 31, 2025, and be succeeded by Mashal Husain, now the group's chief operating officer. The foundation, based in Des Moines, Iowa, said it would conduct a global search to fill a newly created chief executive officer position.

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson is ready to move another extension of the 2018 farm bill, acknowledging to reporters Monday evening that lawmakers are unlikely to consider the measure in the lame duck session. “We’re prepared for an extension,” Thompson said. 

Melissa Koshlaychuck has joined Western Growers as a California government affairs analyst. G. Rey Reinhardt was named president of the J.R. Simplot Co. AgriBusiness Group. Rod Snyder, former top agricultural adviser at EPA, has launched his own consulting firm.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is best known for space exploration, but the organization’s data is also publicly used for an array of purposes to support agriculture, including monitoring crop production, field conditions and global food security. 

Former top ag advisor at the EPA Rod Snyder launched his own consulting firm, Junction Strategies. NASDA hired Patrick Wade as a policy director. Ag policy veteran and current National Council of Farmer Cooperatives leader Chuck Conner announced Monday he will retire at the end of 2025.

The National Chicken Council named Harrison Kircher president and CEO effective Jan. 1. John Altendorf was promoted to legislative director in the office of House Ag Committee member Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn. The National Corn Growers Association hired Becky Langer-Curry as director of inputs and innovation. 

Ag policy veteran and current National Council of Farmer Cooperatives leader Chuck Conner announced Monday he will retire in December 2025, initiating the search for a new CEO.

Indiana farmer and retired Army Col. Joe Ricker was recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation and Farm Credit for his work supporting veterans through agriculture. 

The San Joaquin Tributaries Authority named Andree Lee as the organization’s first executive director. Michael Bliss was promoted to director of grower services at California Citrus Mutual

Mission Produce promoted Brooke Becker to senior vice president of sales. Ryan Krabill joined the Oregon Farm Bureau as a government affairs manager. Kenneth Connolly joined the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Democratic staff as a senior policy adviser. 

Ag policy veteran Kellie Bray is joining the Global Farmer Network as director of partnerships while also starting her own business, KBray Consulting. Patrick Creamer has officially retired from his post as communications director for the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Andrew Walmsley joined the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology as vice president of government relations. Sanah Baig is the new White House senior policy advisor for agriculture and nutrition.