State ag officials shift 2023 Farm Bill focuses

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Arlington, Virginia, will focus its policy advocacy efforts on 10 key policy areas in the 2023 Farm Bill.

During the hybrid 2022 NASDA Winter Policy Conference held Feb. 13-16, members established a need to participate in farm bill conversations tackling the following:

• Agriculture research
• Animal disease
• Conservation and climate resiliency
• Cyber security
• Food safety
• Hemp
• Invasive species
• Local food systems
• Specialty crop block grants
• Trade promotion

“The next farm bill must remain unified, securing a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most,” says Ted McKinney, NASDA CEO. “Often the officials closest to farmers themselves and as co-regulators with the federal government, NASDA members are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions for the 2023 Farm Bill.”