Items Tagged with 'AFIA'

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.

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.

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 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.

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking comments on how to handle approval of animal food ingredients following last week’s announcement it will not be renewing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

A Senate committee advanced a reauthorization bill for animal drug user fees Thursday after adopting an amendment to speed reviews of feed ingredients that can address environmental concerns or make livestock production more efficient. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is wading into the battle over bills aimed at reining in the market power of big meatpackers.