Agriculture is the backbone of our nation, providing food, fiber, and countless other essential resources. It’s an industry that affects every American, whether they are directly involved in farming or not. To ensure the success and sustainability of agriculture no matter what it looks like in your zip code, there must be a platform for collaboration, information sharing, and policy development across the nation. This is where the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Conference plays a crucial role.
I spent a week this monthin Wyoming, joining other state agriculture leaders, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and experts from across the United States at NASDA’s annual meeting. There, we discussed the pressing issues facing agriculture today, like labor, climate change, rural development, and innovation.
By fostering collaboration among state agriculture leaders, the NASDA Conference seeds and fertilizes coordinated efforts to tackle common challenges. Whether combating invasive species, improving food safety standards, or advancing conservation practices, the conference serves as a catalyst for cooperative initiatives that benefit not only individual states but the industry across the country, building our national resiliency and sustainability, improving food access, and safeguarding our environment.
Agriculture is subject to an ever-evolving landscape of regulations and policies, both at the state and federal levels. The NASDA Conference plays a pivotal role in shaping these policies by providing a platform for informed discussions, where agricultural leaders come together to identify shared priorities and advocate for policies that will impact us all and spur states’ vitality and growth. This collaboration creates a collective voice, bringing with it the power to influence decision-makers at all levels of government, and helping speed the pace of progress.
This year, Pennsylvania proposed policies supporting workforce development, agricultural education, and farm transition. I am proud to say these policies were approved at the conference and will now serve as guidance for national policy and efforts. The policy statements adopted by NASDA serves as a legislative and regulatory roadmap for NASDA staff as they interact with Members of Congress and federal officials throughout the year. Our hope is that these policies adopted by NASDA can be acted upon at the federal level.
We looked at our own Farm Vitality grants to inspire a call for the creation of a federal grant program that will help farm owners pay for professional service providers, who can share guidance for farm transitions to encourage the transfer of agriculture assets or capture new market opportunities for long-term economic viability. Since the launch of the PA Farm Bill’s Farm Vitality Grant Program in 2019, Pennsylvania has awarded $2.2 million to 316 farmers in 49 counties, enabling them to access planning services to ensure long-term profitability and stewardship of their farms. Of these grants, 115 were for preserved farms.
We advocated for agriculture education, using a concept that was identified through a working group comprised of Northeast State Departments of Agriculture and the Northeast Agriculture Extension Educators, that recognized the need for a federal vision for agriculture education, as well as funding and resources to support it. NASDA approved the measure, calling for increased federal investment in agriculture education through grants and other incentives for schools to offer agriculture education programs. The policy also recommends funding for USDA to create agricultural literacy resources that guidance counselors can use to expose students to agriculture-related jobs.
Beyond ag education, our collective workforce needs — at every level and sector of the industry — demanded our attention. Frequently, the feedback we hear from industry is a need for focus on non-four-year degrees, such as certificate programs, to get learners into the workforce faster, while still providing employers with a level of confidence in their baseline skills and competence. Through this policy, NASDA supports increased investment in university extension and other programs providing certificates, micro-credentials, and apprenticeships for youth and adult learners.
These policy priorities, and a robust array of those from our partners in other states, are inspiring action, innovation, and growth in the industry across the nation. NASDA’s conference is a vital linchpin for the U.S. agriculture industry. It fosters collaboration, shapes policy, addresses critical issues, and educates stakeholders. The conference helps ensure that agriculture remains resilient, sustainable, and capable of meeting the needs of a growing population. As we face mutual challenges and opportunities, even in our diversity, the importance of collaboration in guiding the future of the industry cannot be overstated.
This column was originally published by Lancaster Farming and is republished here with permission of the Department of Agriculture.
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