USDA's Second-in-Command Learns About Biofuels

American Agriculturist
Rod Swoboda
Published: Oct 23, 2009

USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan's central Iowa tour gives her a look at ethanol and biodiesel production—and cutting edge biofuel technology.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan had never visited an ethanol plant before. On October 20 she got the chance to tour the Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant at Nevada in central Iowa, and also Renewable Energy Group's cutting-edge biodiesel feedstock research lab just down the road at Ames.

Merrigan is the second highest ranking official in USDA, behind U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. She was an assistant professor of nutrition at Tufts University before her confirmation as deputy secretary this year.

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