Farmer to head Montana Agriculture |
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Published
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Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:53
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HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The operator of a farm in the Kalispell area was appointed director of the Montana Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Ron de Yong, 59, to succeed Nancy K. Peterson, who died last month after battling cancer.The governor's office said de Yong owns and operates a 320-acre family farm in the Kalispell area. He also teaches agriculture policy and economics at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and has held positions with the National Farmers Union and Montana Farmers Union.'Ron is a common-sense guy with a commitment to moving Montana agriculture forward,' Schweitzer said in a statement. 'It is an honor to have him on the team.'de Yong said he is committed to 'family farms and ranches and value-added agriculture in Montana.'He will be paid an annual salary of $90,334 and is scheduled to start work Sept. 4.Peterson had held the position since Schweitzer took office in 2004. She succeeded Ralph Peck.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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