U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments- Apr 2023

Apr 13, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the names of individuals who will hold senior staff positions in Washington, D.C.

Jamal Habibi has been promoted to Chief of Staff for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs

Most recently, Habibi served as Chief of Staff for Rural Housing Service since February 2021. As Chief of Staff, Habibi supported American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) implementation efforts and collaborated with the White House and various federal agencies to develop USDA commitments that boost new housing supply and provide greater protections for tenants in rural communities. Before his appointment at USDA, Habibi was a Senior Associate at the Opportunity Finance Network. During the Obama Administration, Habibi served as Outreach Director at the Department of Treasury and as a Special Assistant at USDA. Habibi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

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Video: Dr. Fei Yang Discusses Corn Rootworm, European Corn Borer, and Pest Monitoring

What insect threats are Minnesota corn growers facing, and what research is helping farmers stay ahead of them?

At the 2026 MN Ag Expo, University of Minnesota entomologist Fei Yang shared updates on three Minnesota Corn-supported research projects focused on insect monitoring, seed treatments, and pest resistance.

Current work includes statewide monitoring programs that use pheromone, light, and sticky traps to track key pests such as black cutworm, true armyworm, corn earworm, European corn borer, and corn rootworm. Researchers are also evaluating whether high-rate seed treatments provide effective corn rootworm control and studying the development of resistance in European corn borer populations to Bt corn traits.

These projects help researchers better understand pest pressures across Minnesota and provide farmers with practical information to support informed management decisions.