New leadership team unveiled at USDA

Apr 18, 2024

By Farms.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made significant staff appointments to fortify its leadership in agricultural policy and administration. These appointments aim to address key areas of agriculture, conservation, and nutrition, aligning with broader U.S. strategies to sustain and develop the agricultural sector.

Alysia K. Peters is now the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, having previously directed the Peace Corps’ Office of Gifts and Grants Management. Her diverse experience in government and policy makes her well-suited for her new role.

Dr. Alexandra Lawrence has been named Chief of Staff for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, coming from a robust background in global operations at the Peace Corps and conservation leadership roles at the Ocean Conservancy.

Ethan Holmes steps into the role of Senior Policy Advisor for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, bringing insights from his time as an Agricultural Policy Advisor and his work with the United States Trade Representative.

Sakeenah Shabazz will contribute her expertise in food and nutrition policies as the new Senior Policy Advisor for the Food and Nutrition Service, having been deeply involved in policy management and hunger solutions initiatives.

Additionally, Maya Cohn and Maya Johnson are appointed as Policy Advisors for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, each bringing unique perspectives from environmental policy and energy management to classroom education.

These strategic appointments underscore the USDA's commitment to enhancing agricultural practices and policies, ensuring a robust future for U.S. farming and food systems.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.