Articles by Lydia Johnson

The new general manager for Kings County Water District in California is Madalyn E. Vieira.

The Agriculture Department named a new communications team. The International Dairy Foods Association added two staff members: Darrin Youker as director of state government relations and Cal Wilson as manager of government affairs. Ryan Yates joined Farm Credit Bank of Texas as senior vice president of government relations. Carlye Winfrey was promoted to professional staff on the Senate Ag Committee. Bill Davis joined Zoetis as the senior director and head of U.S. federal and state affairs. 

EPA chief Lee Zeldin says he's open to discussion on marine fuels and the RFS. 

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says his agency's review of glyphosate will reflect whatever the science says. 

Companies and trade groups are debating whether imported feedstocks should count toward the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit as a three‑day IRS hearing on the proposed rule continues today. Tom Sell, co-founder and manager of ag lobbying firm Combest, Sell & Associates, defeated Abraham Enriquez to secure the Republican nomination in Texas’ 19th congressional district.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is adding Virginia Houston as senior director of government affairs. Ashley McKeon was named president and CEO of the Soil Health Institute. Austin Matheny-Kawesch is now press secretary for Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

A major fight on the cost structure of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be waiting when senators return from a weeklong recess on June 1. A forthcoming farm bill proposal from the Senate Ag Committee won’t include controversial provisions on pesticide labeling and livestock welfare, a panel spokesperson tells Agri-Pulse.

Sierra Club California hired Asha Sharma as deputy director. Jessica Bonitz was appointed deputy public adviser at the California Energy Commission. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt has resigned, and Colton Buckley has assumed the role of chief. California Gov. Gavin Newsom made appointments to the Gold Country and Big Fresno Fair Boards. 

Georgia Congressman Austin Scott is positioning himself to become the next Republican leader of the House Agriculture Committee, arguing that his ties to the Trump administration, vision for enhancing farm profitability, and focus on protecting American agriculture from foreign adversaries make him the right leader to guide the panel through the prolonged downturn in the ag economy.