Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

American Soybean Association CEO nominated to be USDA Deputy Secretary

American Soybean Association CEO nominated to be USDA Deputy Secretary

Stephen Censky has served as ASA CEO for 21 years

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

U.S. President Trump nominated the current CEO of the American Soybean Association (ASA) to be the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Stephen Censky has served as CEO of the ASA for the last 21 years. Prior to that, he served the USDA in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations.

Censky’s experiences make him a perfect fit to serve as USDA Deputy Secretary, according to a number of U.S. agricultural organizations.


Stephen Censky

“Nobody in agriculture is better equipped to assist Secretary Perdue in meeting the needs of farmers with practical solutions than Steve,” ASA president Ron Moore said in a July 14 statement. “He is a perfect fit for this role and we give him our strongest endorsement.”

“Steve knows firsthand the importance of increasing global demand for U.S. agricultural products, growing the renewable fuels industry, and protecting risk management programs,” Wesley Spurlock, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement.” His background and experience are especially welcome as we begin to shape the next farm bill.

““He is an aggressive advocate for farmers and truly understands how important international trade is to the ag economy, and how critical a strong crop insurance program is for farmers to farm another year when they experience a weather or economic storm,” Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, said in a July 13 statement.

USDA Secretary Perdue is eager to work with Censky, too.

“He will bring enthusiasm and a dedication to this country which will be great assets to USDA’s customers,” he said in a July 13 statement. “I am extremely pleased with the nomination for this key position and am hopeful that the Senate will take it up in short order.”

Before serving in the public sector, Censky earned his B.S. in agriculture from South Dakota State University and a postgraduate diploma in agriculture science from the University of Melbourne in Australia.

And he spent his childhood on a corn, soybean and diversified livestock farm near Jackson, Minnesota.


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

Comments


Your email address will not be published