The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week the appointment of Terry Cosby as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Cosby started his career with USDA in 1979 as a student trainee in Iowa and later led the Iowa NRCS agency. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says it’s good to have some one who understands Iowa’s farmers and their conservation needs taking the helm at the NRCS.

He’s also encouraged about the stance the Biden administration has been taking with prioritizing conservation and incentivizing producers to follow through with those practices.

Lehman says he’s also pleased Iowa’s lawmakers are working to help farmers and ranchers with their conservation and soil health improvement efforts.

The new NRCS Chief has extensive experience in conservation as a farmer, a sportsman and state conservationist which should help him in his new job.