Almond Board of California has hired Drew Wolter as the new pest management senior specialist joining the board’s Research and Innovation team. A graduate student at University of California-Davis, Wolter spent time conducting research on almond production systems. He graduated in June with a master's in horticulture and agronomy.
Agri-Pulse has hired Danielle Brinkmann as a western sales associate, supporting the expansion of Agri-Pulse West in California. Brinkmann is a 2018 graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where she majored in Crop Science with a concentration in Crop Agribusiness. The Illinois native previously worked for Climate FieldView to help farmers collect data and improve their productivity. She has also worked in the renewable energy industry for RPS Solar Pumps, a solar water pump company.
Danielle Brinkmann
The Idaho Potato Commission has appointed three new commissioners to represent the grower sector: Ron Ambrose of Four Ace Farms in Wendell; Mark Darrington of Big D Farms in Declo; and Eric Jemmett of J&S Farms in Parma. The three new appointees will serve a three-year term. Todd Cornelison of High Country Potatoes was appointed chairman and Brett Jensen of Brett Jensen Farms was appointed vice chairman.
BASF has added four new individuals to its Washington D.C., team. Aline DeLucia is the new head of industry affairs for BASF’s crop protection business. DeLucia previously worked for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), where she led the organization’s policy team. Max Moncaster joined BASF in September as industry affairs manager for the crop protection division. Moncaster also previously worked for NASDA, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Deloitte, and was with the Canadian Ministry of International Trade. Stephanie Binns was hired as the new Washington regulatory affairs manager in the crop protection regulatory affairs group. Binns serves as the primary liaison to EPA and other federal agencies. Before joining BASF, Binns was director of regulatory affairs at Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE). Andrew Conner was brought on as the new market acceptance manager for the seeds and traits division. Conner was previously senior manager for international affairs at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and has also worked for the U.S. Grains Council.
CLAAS of America has hired Ray Ochsner as the new vice president of retail. He has previous work experience with RDO Equipment Company, Columbia Tractor Inc., Bushel Inc., and Titan Machinery Inc.
Bonnie Glick has been removed of her duties as deputy administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her removal occurred the same day President Donald Trump named John Barsa to fill Glick’s role as deputy administrator. Barsa had been serving as acting administrator to USAID, but his term expired at midnight on Nov. 6. Glick had been with the agency since January 2019. Before that, she worked for the Maryland Department of Aging as the deputy secretary. In her position at USAID, she worked to help countries maximize clean technology in their Journeys to Self-Reliance. She also served as the head of the Management Operations Council.
Bonnie Glick
Neil Chatterjee has been relieved of his duties as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. President Trump has selected James Danly to replace Chatterjee as head of the agency that regulates interstate transmission of electricity and natural gas. Danly served as a commissioner since March 2020, and before that, he served as general counsel to the commission since joining FERC in 2017. Chatterjee, a veteran of Sen. Mitch McConnell's staff and previous farm bills, will remain at FERC as a commissioner.
John Deere’s Ag and Turf Division has reorganized its public relations team. Jon Ebert, manager of North American Public & Industry Relations, will lead the newly reorganized team, which consists of: Laurel Caes, technology and innovation public relations manager; Chad Passman, production and precision ag public and industry relations manager; and Darius Lane, small ag and turf public relations manager. Caes was previously the public relations manager for North American agriculture, Passman was previously the manager of product line information, and Lane was previously a marketing specialist.
Natalie Shen has joined the staff of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Detailee.
Jennifer Goedke has joined the staff of Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., as the new chief of staff. She previously worked for Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., as his deputy chief of staff.
Benjamin Bryant is the new communications director for Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif. Bryant previously worked for Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., as deputy press secretary.
Allison Johnson has been promoted to senior legislative assistant and counsel for Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., covering the portfolio for animal welfare and energy. She was previously a legislative assistant.
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