was appointed by the George W. Bush Administration to serve as the director of the Wisconsin Farm Service Agency–a post he held until early 2009. He was then hired to serve as the part-time state relations liaison for the University of WisconsinMadison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, a position funded from donor resources.
milk this past April when several dairy plants were forced to abruptly drop many of their patrons. SPURRING BUSINESS And he took part in numerous international trade missions with the goal of spurring new business relationships with customers abroad.
Ben returned to DATCP under Gov. Scott Walker’s appointment in 2011 and has been a hands-on secretary who was instrumental in drafting and implementing major legislative policies ranging from non-pointsource pollution revisions to updating implements of husbandry standards.
In a statement, Gov. Walker called Brancel a leader who served with distinction. “His leadership and counsel on agriculture and trade issues have been invaluable to me, and I thank him for his service and dedication to the people of Wisconsin,” Walker said. “We wish Ben and his wife, Gail, all the very best as they begin this new and exciting chapter.”
He also took a personal role in helping dozens of Wisconsin dairy farmers find new buyers for their
Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp said the state will be missing a dedicated public servant when
Brancel steps down. “Through his many years in public service, Ben has always understood the challenges of making laws and implementing them,” Stepp said. “I offer my appreciation for those years of service. I congratulate him and wish Ben a rewarding retirement. He has definitely earned it.” During the August meeting, Brancel thanked the governor for the privilege to serve in his cabinet and said he was grateful to get a chance to serve farmers, protect consumers and support businesses. Gov. Walker has appointed DATCP’S second-in-command to agriculture secretary on an interim basis. Walker’s office announced Friday, August 11, that DATCP Deputy Secretary Jeff Lyon will take over as interim secretary.
Suarez Joins Midwestern BioAg as Technical Agronomist Midwestern BioAg introduces Edwin Suarez as the company’s new technical agronomist. Suarez will lead Midwestern BioAg’s soil health initiatives and specialty crop program development. “Having someone of Edwin’s caliber join our team strengthens Midwestern BioAg’s leadership position in the soil health realm,” says Jim Krebsbach, vice president of sales at Midwestern BioAg. “Edwin’s agronomy expertise and experience will be beneficial to our team and, importantly, our customers.” Suarez received his bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture from EARTH University and his master’s degree in agronomy/soil science from Purdue University. His work and research experience has been focused in soil health, soil fertility and plant nutrition.
Suarez has been a consultant, research collaborator, speaker and journal reviewer in soil health, cover crops and manure management. He has diverse experience working with multiple cropping systems, including corn, soybeans, wheat, cover crops, forages and potatoes. Before joining Midwestern BioAg, Suarez worked as the lead agronomist at Sackett Potatoes in Michigan, where he promoted soil health in the chip potato industry. He is a listed expert in soil health and has worked and collaborated with multiple organizations in the field, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Tilth Laboratory,
UNEP and the Midwest Cover Crop Council. “Edwin’s passion for soil health and focus on helping producers grow healthier, more profitable crops makes him an excellent fit for our team,” says Krebsbach. Midwestern BioAg manufactures and distributes fertilizers that build soil health while increasing yields and nutritional quality of both food and forage. Its products and practices engage soil life, ensure nutrient use efficiency, build soil organic matter, improve crop resiliency and increase the long-term productivity of farmland. Founded in 1983, the Wisconsin-based company has facilities across the Midwest. BC�T September 55