Items Tagged with 'American Feed Industry Association'

The International Trade Commission has announced it will investigate Chinese state support in the biotechnology sector as part of a pair of new probes looking at the U.S. trade relationship with Beijing.

Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, agricultural trade consultant at AgTrade Strategies, has retired. She held numerous roles in the space, including assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, executive vice president of food and agriculture at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and associate deputy administrator for fruit and vegetable programs at the Agriculture Department.

The Friant Water Authority appointed Julie Gantenbein as general counsel. She has been a shareholder in the Water and Power Law Group for the past 15 years where she has gained experience in water rights, regulatory compliance and statewide water policy. Her legal career includes extensive experience in non-federal hydropower licensing and compliance proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), natural gas certificate and compliance matters before FERC, and regulatory proceedings for federal water control facilities before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, according to the Friant Water Authority’s news release. 

The American Soybean Association elected new members to its board of directors, including Ohio grower Scott Metzger as 2026 ASA president. The American Farm Bureau Federation hired Autumn Lankford Higgins as director of government affairs. Sustainable aviation fuel developer Gevo tapped Paul Bloom as CEO and a director on the company’s board. Pivot Bio announced additions to the senior management team, including Shekar Govindaswamy as principal scientist.

Michael Boren has. been confirmed as USDA's undersecretary for natural resources, and Devon Westhill as assistant agriculture secretary for civil rights. John Hollay will replace Michael Marsh as president and CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers. Sam Kieffer will be the next CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers. The International Feed Industry Federation elected Constance Cullman as chair. 

Spiro Stefanou stepped down as administrator of the USDA Economic Research Service. The Bockorny Group hired John Torres as a principal. Laura Hensley was promoted to chief marketing officer at Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. The American Seed Trade Association hired Brandon Pachman as director of government affairs.

Danielle Beck joined the Corn Refiners Association and Plant Based Products Council as vice president of government relations. The American Soybean Association hired Madelyn Derks as a director of government affairs overseeing ASA’s regulatory portfolio. The American Peanut Council named Luke Blaustein president and CEO. 

The American Feed Industry Association hired Cornelia Poku as director of communications. The Farmers National Company Board of Directors appointed Paul Schadegg as president. The Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council named Casey Wasser as the new chief executive office and executive director. The National Telecommunications Industry Association hired Mollie Timmons as senior adviser for public affairs. 

Jimmy Emmons was named assistant chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Caleb Crosswhite joined USDA as deputy general counsel. The Peterson Group hired former House Ag Committee Democratic staff director Anne Simmons as a policy consultant. 

The American Feed Industry Association hired Greg Conner as senior manager of multilateral affairs and market access. Mallory Gaines was promoted to director of global affairs. Three new senior advisers were named to the Surface Transportation Board: Sharon Clark, Rob Reilly, and Chris Bertram. The Midwest Council on Agriculture appointed former undersecretary Greg Ibach as a policy adviser. 

The European Union and the Mercosur countries have concluded negotiations on a long-anticipated trade deal that would cut tariffs and reduce trade barriers on a slate of agriculture products. 

The Food and Drug Administration will no longer rely on state feed control officials for help with animal food ingredient approvals after choosing not to renew a long-standing agreement that supported one of its primary review pathways.