Workgroups are the scientific foundation of CAST. They bring together professionals, academics, and researchers to analyze, interpret, and communicate credible, objective information on issues critical to agriculture, food, and environmental systems.

Our Workgroups

Workgroups at CAST bring together professionals, academics, and researchers who collaborate to analyze, interpret, and communicate critical scientific information on topics relevant to their fields.

Work Group Participation

  • Builder Partners and Influence Partners select one representative to participate in Work Group activities.
  • Individual Members and Collaborator Partners may submit proposals to Work Groups and are invited to attend select meetings as guests.
Poultry Science Association
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
National Milk Producers Federation
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Iowa State University
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Past CAST President
Legacy

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
James Kober
American Veterinary Medical Association
Chair

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
AWG Liaison

 – 

Board of Directors
American Society of Animal Science
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
National Milk Producers Federation
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian, Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Member

 – 

Board of Directors
American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
American Dairy Science Association
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
American Association of Avian Pathologists
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
U.S. Poultry and Egg Association
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Oklahoma State University
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
National Pork Board
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Penn State University
Representative

 – 

Animal Sciences Workgroup
Brandon Neuschafer
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Past President

 – 

Board of Directors
American Meat Science Association
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Iowa State University
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Society for In Vitro Biology
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
University of Alberta
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
John Swarthout
Bayer Crop Science
Chair

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
FWG Liaison

 – 

Board of Directors
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Member

 – 

Board of Directors
National Turkey Federation
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Cornell University
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Past CAST President
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Tom Redick
Global Environmental Ethics Council
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Society Liaison

 – 

Board of Directors
Mississippi State University
Representative

 – 

Food Sciences Workgroup
Mosaic Company
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Past CAST President
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Past BOD Member
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
United Soybean Board
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
American Seed Association
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Crop Science Society of America
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Purdue University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Kansas State University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Minor Use Foundation
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
David D. Baltensperger
Texas A&M University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Nonprofit/Education Liaison

 – 

Board of Directors
Dirk Drost
CAST BOD Member
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Treasurer

 – 

Board of Directors
American Meteorological Society, Committee on Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Aquatic Plant Management Society
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Western Society of Weed Science
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
American Society of Agronomy
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Tennessee State University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Weed Science Society of America
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Past CAST President
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
The Fertilizer Institute
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Manojit Basu
CropLife America
Member

 – 

Strategic Advisory Council
2026
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Corteva
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Tuskegee University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Marty Matlock
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Chair

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
PWG Liaison

 – 

Board of Directors
Melissa Johnson
Corteva
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
President-Elect

 – 

Board of Directors
Rural Sociological Society
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Nutrien
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Northeastern Weed Science Society
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Syngenta Crop Protection
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
National Corn Growers Association / Iowa Corn Promotion Board
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
University of Illinois
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Soil Science Society of America
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Southern Weed Science Society
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
North Central Weed Science Society
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
BASF Corporation
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
Vara Prasad
Kansas State University
Representative

 – 

Plant & Soil Sciences Workgroup
President

 – 

Board of Directors