USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Iowa Farm Service Agency State Committee

Des Moines, Iowa - April 16, 2026 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Iowa USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.

Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration's Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for Iowa are:

• Merlin Bartz, Chair (Grafton) - Bartz is the owner and operator of a sixth-generation diversified farming operation in Worth County, which includes three century farm parcels and was among the first in the county accepted into the Conservation Stewardship Program. He has served in multiple local, state, and federal leadership roles, including as Worth County supervisor, Iowa State Senator and representative, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service central regional assistant chief, and special assistant to the under secretary of Natural Resources and Environment at USDA.
• Rebecca Boyer, Member (Ankeny) - Boyer was raised on a row-crop and independent hog farm in Emmet County, giving her early experience in production agriculture before pursuing a career in law and agricultural policy. She later served as director of government affairs for a statewide cooperative organization, where she advanced member priorities and worked across the agriculture sector, bringing a blend of farm-rooted perspective, legal training, and policy expertise to the state committee.
• Tim Couser, Member (Nevada) - Couser is the sole owner and operator of his family row crop farm in Story County, where he manages the day-to-day operations and leads projects involving agronomics, biologicals, conservation management, and is a seed corn production grower. He has been active in agricultural leadership and engagement through roles with Story County Cattlemen, the Key Cooperative Board, Lincolnway Energy, and Extension Council.
• Colin Johnson, Member (Batavia) - Johnson is a fourth-generation producer who operates a diversified farm that raises corn, soybeans, forages, sweet corn, cattle, and swine, using conservation-focused practices such as no-till, minimum-till, and perennial grazing in Wapello County. He brings more than 20 years of Extension and outreach experience through roles with Iowa State University and agricultural education programs, along with leadership in Farm Bureau, county planning and zoning, and broad collaboration with statewide agricultural organizations.
• Nathan Nieuwendorp, Member (Inwood) - Nieuwendorp owns and operates a diversified farm that produces corn, soybeans, and swine. He oversees the day management and long-term strategic planning. He also serves as director of research & strategic initiatives for another family farm operation and has prior experience in actuarial analysis. Nieuwendorp has served in leadership roles for pork producer organizations and church committees.

"These individuals, selected by Secretary Rollins in partnership with key stakeholders in each state, are held in high regard in the agriculture industry and are entrusted to ensure FSA programs are delivered in a manner consistent with federal farm policy and in the best interest of all agricultural producers in their state," said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. "Their appointment to the FSA state committee is a testament to their standing in the industry and their dedication to the agriculture industry, rural America and President Trump's America First, Farmers First policies."

FSA helps America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.