The American Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau members across the country will have a seat at the table advising the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission with the appointment of Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue to serve on the Agricultural Advisory Committee.

In this role, McHargue will help facilitate communication between the CFTC and the agricultural community, including Farm Bureau members and leaders. He will also provide insight and recommendations to the CFTC.

“Mark McHargue will join the CFTC Agricultural Advisory Committee at an important time,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “His experience with both farming and financial services makes him well-suited to advise on issues facing agriculture including climate, sustainability and crypto currency. He will be a strong representative for AFBF and America’s farmers.”

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McHargue said, “The job of U.S. farmers and ranchers is more complex than ever. Aside from producing the food, fiber and fuel for our nation and world, they must be conservationists, accountants, geneticists, agronomists and even marketing specialists, to name a few. I am proud to take my years of marketing experience and represent the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the nearly 6 million members we represent, on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Agricultural Advisory Committee. I look forward to helping the commission work through the many issues and challenges facing our farm and ranch families.”

Once confirmed, McHargue will represent AFBF and NEFB on the AAC for a two-year term.

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Rob-See-Co announces Sick as product manager

Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb., announced the addition of Steve Sick as product manager for alfalfa, sorghum and soybeans. Sick brings over 40 years of experience in the seed industry and has worked in nearly every aspect of the business.

“I’m very happy to announce that Steve Sick has joined Rob-See-Co as our alfalfa, sorghum, and soybean product manager,” said Jim Robinson, chief technology officer at Rob-See-Co. “Steve has spent years in the seed industry and has a reputation among customers and other industry professionals that is second to none. We are very excited to have him onboard.”

Sick began working in the industry in the mid-1980s with JC Robinson Seed Company, quickly moving up to the seed R & D Department. When the department split into corn and soybeans, Steve began working with soybeans and sorghum eventually adding alfalfa to the crop responsibilities. Over the years Sick has worked for Syngenta, NuTech Seed, and Farm Business Network, mostly dealing with soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the wonderful team of experts at Rob-See-Co,” Sick said. “The breadth of my career in the seed industry has led me to this role and I couldn’t be more excited to bring my experience to this innovative and results-driven company.”

U.S. Wheat Associates names Laudeman director of trade policy

Peter Laudeman has joined U.S. Wheat Associates as director of trade policy. He is a government affairs professional with more than four years of experience in trade association and corporate policy advocacy. He joined USW Aug. 20, 2022.

“I am excited to welcome Peter Laudeman to the USW team. He brings a diverse set of experiences working for both growers and the crop protection industry which will serve him well in the trade policy role,” said Dalton Henry, USW vice president of policy. “In addition to traditional trade policy, we look forward to Peter’s leadership on Food Assistance and Development as well as the use and adoption of technology by U.S. wheat farmers.”

Laudeman most recently served as political affairs manager with Corteva Agriscience in Washington, D.C., where he led the biotechnology issues portfolio and the company’s carbon and ecosystem services advocacy.

Before joining Corteva, Laudeman was a legislative assistant with the National Corn Growers Association. There he supported NCGA’s advocacy work on the 2018 farm bill and led policy research and economic analysis related to farm programs.

His first position in Washington, D.C., was as a legislative intern in the office of Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood.

Laudeman grew up in Sherman, Ill., and earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, in 2018.