Bruce Knight is a nationally recognized expert on conservation, agriculture and the environment. With a long track record of bringing strategic workable solutions to complex and controversial issues, he understands the workings of farm and conservation policy from the grassroots to the national level. Coupled with his national policymaking experience is a pragmatic approach to issues harvested from his personal farming enterprise.
Today, as a consultant focused on conservation and environmental issues related to agriculture, Knight provides a visionary and unique perspective on the future of conservation policies. He understands the potential value to his clients in agriculture, environment, wildlife and food systems of cutting-edge ideas and strategies such as carbon markets and other ecosystem services.
Drawing on his experience as a former association executive, lobbyist, regulator and Capitol Hill staffer, Knight has a broad understanding of how Washington works. But he also brings firsthand knowledge of farming to his national policymaking credentials.
Knight was the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2006–2009. In that role, he oversaw APHIS, AMS, and GIPSA. He previously served as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service from 2002 to 2006, where the agency assisted 1 million farmers and ranchers in applying conservation on more than 130 million acres of working farm and ranchlands. He also served on the staff of Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and worked with other congressional offices and major agricultural producer groups, including the National Corn Growers Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers.
A third-generation rancher and farmer and lifelong conservationist, Knight operates a diversified grain and cattle operation using no-till and rest rotation grazing systems. His farming and ranching background gives him firsthand knowledge of the interdependency of animal, plant and human health with the environment.
