FORMER MONTANA STATE CONSERVATIONIST NAMED TO TOP NRCS POSITION

March 24, 2009

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Washington--Dave White, who served as the Montana State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was today appointed to serve as the Chief of the agency. White served as Montana State Conservationist from 2002 to 2008, working from the state office in Bozeman.

“Dave White’s extensive experience working with NRCS and at the local, state and national levels is exactly what we need during this time of economic uncertainty and renewal,” said Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack. “Dave’s expertise and advice will be particularly valuable as we implement the 2008 Farm Bill and work to achieve President Obama’s goal for renewing America and combating global change.”

White has worked for the agency in Missouri, South Carolina and Montana. He served in the Senate Agriculture Committee where he helped craft the Conservation title for both the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. He served on the White House Task Force for Livable Communities during the Clinton Administration. He was named Acting Chief of NRCS January 21st of this year, an assignment Secretary Vilsack made permanent with today’s announcement.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has an annual budget in excess of $3 billion with a workforce of approximately 12,000. In Montana there are approximately 330 NRCS employees. White’s Montana position as the State Conservationist was filled last month by Joyce Swartzendruber, the former State Conservationist in Maine.

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