Interviews begin for new organic dairy leader
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 05/13/2010 8:59 AM
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MORRIS, Minn. —Three candidates are being interviewed for the organic dairy management post at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris.
Dairy scientist Dennis Johnson is planning to retire and will remain in his position until the new person is hired, said WCROC head Lee Johnston.
U of M search committee members identified the three and began the interviews last week.
The first interviewee is Rosemary Nyoka. She is Is a Ph.D. candidate in dairy science at South Dakota State University in Brookings. She received her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Zimbabwe in Harare and has research experience in diet supplements for grazing dairies to improve milk composition.
Brad Heins' interview takes place this week. He is a Ph.D. candidate in animal science at the University of Minnesota, where he also has received his bachelors and masters degrees.
His research has focused on crossbreeding of dairy cattle.
The third candidate, Alejandro La Manna, will be interviewed at the University of Minnesota on May 10 and complete the process May 11, Johnston said.
La Manna is the National Dairy Program leader of the National Agricultural Research Institute in Uruguay,. He has a masters and Ph.D. in animal nutrition from Oklahoma State University. He has a bachelors in animal science and agronomy from the Universidad de la Republica in Montevideo, Uruguay.
His research experience is in cattle, grazing and soil quality relationships.
Each candidate starts the interview process at the U of M, Johnston said. The successful candidate will be part of the college's dairy faculty and will use the U of M's dairy resources.
The candidates travel to WCROC for the second day's interview. WCROC's dairy program is Extension-based and the new hire will spend more time with the public, Johnston said.
The position could be filled sometime this summer, Johnston said.