The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) in mid-November announced that Lara Moody, executive director for the Institute for Feed Education and Research’s (IFEEDER), has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF).
As a member of the USDA AAQTF, Moody will have a role in advising the agriculture secretary on air quality issues and their connection to agriculture. She will contribute to reviewing federally supported research, fostering collaboration across government levels to align agricultural air quality policies, and ensure that USDA-backed conservation practices are grounded in peer-reviewed science and remain economically viable for producers.
“The animal feed industry has been working hard to bring innovative feed technologies to the market that can reduce enteric methane production or decrease nitrogen and phosphorous loss into the environment,” says AFIA President and CEO and IFEEDER President Constance Cullman. “With Lara Moody’s background in animal production systems, manure management and crop production, she understands the essential role agriculture has in adopting practices that support air quality. She will undoubtedly raise the right questions and provide input to the secretary of agriculture as the department moves forward in supporting air quality programs or developing new regulations.”
Moody holds degrees in both agricultural and biosystems engineering and has experience in both academic research institutions and industry organizations. She also has experience with air quality and manure management research at Iowa State University.