USDA Renews Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, Appoints Members

USDA Renews Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, Appoints Members WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the renewal of the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force and the selection of its members for the 2016-2018 term. The task force is composed of representatives from agriculture, industry, academia, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and other agricultural and environmental experts. "The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force is another example of USDA's continued commitment to developing science-based solutions and conservation measures that not only reduce the agriculture industry's environmental impact, but in many ways enhance our natural resources through improved agricultural practices," said Vilsack. "Bringing together a variety of perspectives and scientific insights to this task force will help reach solutions to resolve air quality challenges." The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force promotes USDA research efforts and identifies cost-effective ways the agriculture industry can improve air quality. It also helps better coordinate activities and resources among USDA agencies and other federal partners such as the Environmental Protection Agency. The task force advises the Secretary of Agriculture on air quality and its relationship to agriculture based on sound scientific findings; Reviews research on agricultural air quality supported by federal agencies; promotes intergovernmental (federal, state, local and tribal) coordination in establishing agricultural air quality policy to avoid duplication of efforts; and ensures that air quality conservation practices supported by USDA are based on peer reviewed research and are economically feasible for agricultural producers. The task force was formed in 1996 at the direction of Congress to address agricultural air quality issues. Chaired by Jason Weller, chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, this is the ninth task force since the first was assembled in 1997. Members of the 2016-2018 task force are: Arizona Marguerite Tan, LLC Farm Operations California Kevin Abernathy, Milk Producers Council Cynthia Cory, California Farm Bureau Federation Manuel F. Cunha, Jr., Nisei Farmers League Samir Sheikh, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Colorado Jeff Collett, Colorado State University Jon Slutsky, Producer Idaho April Leytem, USDA Agricultural Research Service Illinois Juan Tricarico, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Clifford Zhang, University of Illinois Iowa Chris Petersen, Producer Charles Stanier, University of Iowa Kentucky Clint Quarles, Kentucky Dept. Agriculture Phil Silva, USDA Agricultural Research Service Louisiana Annette Sharp, Louisiana Dept. Environmental Quality Maryland Lara Moody, The Fertilizer Institute Ana Rule, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Michigan Gerry May, Producer Minnesota Larry Jacobson, University of Minnesota Missouri Terry Spence, Producer New York Hal Kreher, Producer Patrick McCormick, Producer North Carolina Sally Shaver, Shaver Consulting Inc. Lingjuan Wang Li, North Carolina State University North Dakota Shafiqur Rahman, North Dakota State University Oregon Merlyn Hough, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency Pennsylvania William Angstadt, Angstadt Consulting Tennessee William Norman, National Cotton Council Texas Brock Faulkner, Texas A&M University Kelley Green, Texas Cotton Ginners' Association Anissa Purswell, Enviro-Ag Engineering Bryan Shaw, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Ben Weinheimer, Texas Cattle Feeders Association Washington Brian Cochrane, Producer Nichole Embertson, Whatcom Conservation District The first meeting of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force is planned for the spring of 2016. For more information visit the AAQTF web page. #