USDA renews Agriculture Air Quality Task Force for 2016-2018 term

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently renewed its Agricultural Air Quality Task Force, which promotes research, finds cost-effective air quality improvement methods and coordinates efforts with other USDA and federal agencies.

The department also selected task force members for the 2016-2018 term, including agricultural, industrial, academic, governmental and environmental experts, among other professionals, drawn from 20 states.

"The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force is another example of USDA's continued commitment to developing science-based solutions and conservation measures that not only reduce the agriculture industry's environmental impact, but in many ways enhance our natural resources through improved agricultural practices," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "Bringing together a variety of perspectives and scientific insights to this task force will help reach solutions to resolve air quality challenges."

The task force was created under Congressional direction in 1996, and this ninth task force will be chaired by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller. It will be responsible for advising Vilsack on the relationship between air quality and agriculture and review research in the field to ensure that the department’s conservation efforts are based on sound science and are economically feasible. The task force also works with other agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency, to prevent any duplication or crossover in air quality policies.