VENEMAN SELECTS BRUCE KNIGHT AS NRCS CHIEF

GRABILL, Ind., March 27, 2002--Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today named Bruce I. Knight as chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Knight will oversee the 11,000-person agency with a budget of $1.1 billion.

NRCS works directly with landowners to help protect the nation's soil and water resources on private land in a voluntary, science-based approach. It also works in partnership with a broad array of state and local groups to sustain and enhance environmental quality.

"Bruce Knight brings to USDA a great deal of knowledge and first-hand experience in conservation and agriculture policy from having served as a congressional staff member, a public policy leader for a national trade association and a working farmer and rancher," said Veneman. "I know that he will use that knowledge and experience in administering important conservation programs for USDA."

Knight currently serves as vice president, public policy, for the National Corn Growers Association's (NCGA) Washington, D.C., office. NCGA is a producer-directed trade association representing U.S. corn growers. Knight previously served on the staff of Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Kan., focusing on development of the conservation title of the 1996 Farm Bill. He also worked for the National Association of Wheat Growers and as a legislative assistant to Rep. Fred Grandy, Iowa, and Sen. James Abdnor, S.D.

A native of Gann Valley, S.D., Knight has been a farmer and rancher since 1976 for a 1,500-acre diversified grain and cattle operation using no-till and rest rotation grazing systems.

Knight succeeds Pearlie S. Reed, who has served as NRCS chief since March 1, 1998. Knight will officially join USDA on May 6.

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