Articles by Lydia Johnson

Erin Morris has been appointed to lead the Agricultural Marketing Service after Bruce Summers retires this month.

House Republicans will seek to push through critical portions of their massive budget package this week, including elements of the farm bill, cuts to nutrition assistance and expanded tax benefits. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins heads to the United Kingdom to talk trade, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces questioning on Capitol Hill.

President Donald Trump has his first deal toward his goal of 90 in 90 days. Eighty-nine more to go. And there’s still more work that may be done on the deal announced Thursday with the U.K.

Ag exports dropped prior to ‘Liberation Day’ * EU countermeasures could include food, drink * US-UK deal a harbinger?

President Donald Trump says he’ll have an announcement of a trade agreement this morning. In a social media post Wednesday night, he said it would be a “major deal” with “a big, and highly respected country. The first of many!!!”

H-2A overhaul returns * Lawmakers eye unimpaired flows * House Ag action set * Milk’s place in dietary guidelines

Trade tips for specialty crops * Rollins grilled on disaster aid * Trump, Carney talk tariffs

Driscoll’s named Gaëlle Le Meur as chief people officer leading the company’s talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership development and inclusion efforts. Kristina Thayer was appointed director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Bryan Anguiano was named state director of USDA Rural Development in California, and Connie Conway returns as state Farm Service Agency director.

Some farm bill programs, including increased commodity program spending, may be rolled into the massive budget reconciliation Republicans are crafting, but a legislative fix for California’s Proposition 12 remains on hold until Congress can consider a standalone farm bill. 

The Meat Institute hired Jesse Fulton as director of animal health and welfare. Former National Pork Board CEO Bill Even will be the next commissioner of the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development. Kenneth Selzer was sworn in as associate administrator of the Risk Management Agency. 

USDA's Farm Production and Conservation mission area added new staff: Kaytlin Bemis is now a policy adviser, Matthew Wininger was hired as special assistant, Kelli Evans was named senior adviser and Kyle Allen is a special assistant.