Farm Foundation names Conklin its new president

Trustees of Farm Foundation this week named Neilson C. Conklin to be the foundation's sixth president. He wil succeed Walter J. Armbruster, president since 1991, who is retiring at the end of the year after 30 years with the foundation.

Conklin is director of the market and trade economics division of the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture. He started ERS research on the economics of biofuels, and directed development of new modeling frameworks on global trade policy analysis. Before joining ERS in 1999, Conklin spent six years as vice president and chief economist for the Farm Credit Council. He worked at the Office of Management and Budget, and taught at Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Colorado State University.

“Neil’s extensive background in economic analysis on a wide range of issues will serve the foundation well in the years ahead,” Board of Trustees Chair Sara Wyant said. “Agriculture, the food system and rural communities face complex and diverse challenges and opportunities.”

Farm Foundation says it is "a catalyst, bringing stakeholders of all ideologies together to examine economic and public policy issues impacting agriculture, the food system and rural communities." It does not lobby or advocate, and says its primary product is "comprehensive, objective information on economic and policy issues." The foundation was a sponsor of the National Summit on Journalism in Rural America. (Read more)