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USDA names RMA, FSA and NRCS leaders

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed three individuals who will oversee risk management programs for the agency.

Iowa farmer Pat Swanson is the new administrator with the Risk Management Agency. She runs a crop insurance agency and previously served as a director with the American Soybean Association.

Farmer Bill Beam from Pennsylvania is Farm Service Agency administrator. Audrey Bettencourt from California will lead the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Beam and Bettencourt both served in the first Trump administration.

USDA also appointed Brooke Appleton from Missouri as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Andrew Fisher from Missouri as the Chief of Staff for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation and Colton Buckley from Texas as Chief of Staff for the NRCS.

These appointed positions aren’t required to go through the confirmation process in the U.S. Senate.