-- SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A farmer from Wentworth, S.D., has been selected as the new president of the South Dakota Soybean Association. Dan Fiege, who served as the organization's first vice president, moved to the presidency at an SDSA board of directors meeting in July. Kevin Scott of Valley Springs, S.D., was named first vice president. Former SDGA President Craig Johnson of Vermillion, S.D., is chairman.
Fred Cholick named American Society of Agronomy fellow-- MANHATTAN, Kan. - Fred Cholick, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, has been named a fellow in the American Society of Agronomy. Designation as a fellow is the highest recognition awarded by the society, and less than one-half of 1 percent of the society's active or emeritus members may be elected annually, says Gerry Posler, professor of agronomy at Kansas State University, who nominated Cholick for the award. As an agronomist, Cholick's career has focused on the application of soil and plant sciences in managing soil and crop production. Cholick grew up on a farm in Oregon. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in agronomy at Oregon State University, a master's degree in agronomy at Colorado State University and Ph.D. in agronomy and plant breeding, also at Colorado State University. Before to accepting his dual role at Kansas State in 2004, Cholick's career efforts were centered at South Dakota State University in Brookings, where he advanced from his first position as an associate professor and project leader, spring wheat breeding and genetics to full professor, department head of plant science and then director of the Experiment Station. He was named dean of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences in 1998.
Amy Hapka joins Rabo AgriFinance-- MOORHEAD, Minn. - Rabo AgriFinance, the U.S. agricultural lending arm of the Rabobank Group, has added Amy Hapka to its staff as crop insurance marketing manager for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Hapka previously worked for Cenex Harvest States and has been working in private crop insurance sales for the past six years. After receiving multiple bachelor's degrees from the University of Minnesota Crookston, she completed her master's degree at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Her past work experiences included her involvement with NDSU extension and focused research on timing and release of nitrogen from crop residues in a small grains, potato and sugar beet rotation. Hapka will work out of her home office on her family farm near Warren, Minn., and the Moorhead, Minn., loan production office.
Daniel Kaiser named soil fertility specialist-- CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota has hired Daniel Kaiser as an extension soil fertility specialist and member of the department of soil, water and climate. Kaiser comes to the University of Minnesota from Iowa State University, where he recently completed his doctorate degree and has been working as a postdoctoral research associate in the department of agronomy.
- Agweek Staff and Wire Reports
