12/24/07 New state Ag Statistics Director; value-added specialist for Mount Vernon

Washington Ag December 24,2007 David Knopf has been named Director of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Knopf succeeds Chris Messer, who accepted the position of Chief of the Census Planning Branch in Washington, D.C. As Washington Field Office Director, Knopf will be responsible for the forecasts and estimates published for Washington in various state and national reports. Knopf begins his position in February 2008. He's is currently Director of the North Dakota Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Chris Messer says she will treasure her time in Washington state and was most impressed with the dedication of the farmers and ranchers here. Messer: "Their interest in agriculture. People's commitment to seeing that agriculture continues to provide a safe food supply and just a keen desire to be a part of what is going on and making decisions in the future. And I really appreciate all the conversations I have had with growers all across the state." Washington State University has filled the new position of BIOAg Value-Added specialist in the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. He is economist Hector Saez who will be located at WSU's research center at Mount Vernon. I'm Bob Hoff.