Jim McLaren Joins St. Louis Fed’s Agribusiness Industry Council

ST. LOUIS— James “Jim” McLaren has been named to the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. McLaren, who has a doctorate of philosophy in plant physiology, is the CEO of agricultural technology and business consulting firm StrathKirn Inc., which is based in Chesterfield.

The St. Louis Fed created four District Industry Councils in 2006, each designed to provide the Fed with important feedback regarding economic conditions within a key Eighth District industry sector. The members’ observations—along with the economic data and information developed through the Federal Reserve Board's Beige Book and meetings of the Reserve Bank’s boards of directors—help ensure that conditions of Main Street America are represented in monetary policy deliberations in Washington.

Each council is supported by one of four of the Reserve Bank's offices: St. Louis (real estate); Little Rock, Ark. (agribusiness); Louisville, Ky. (health care); and Memphis, Tenn. (transportation). The councils meet twice a year.