NASDA Adopts New Policies

ASTA staff member Pat Miller participated in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Annual Meeting August 31-September 3. During the business session of the conference, the organization adopted a significant new policy amendment to formally incorporate NASDA’s commitment to racial justice into its policymaking framework. The policy asserts that diversity and inclusion are fundamental principles of a sustainable agricultural community and are necessary to advance the agricultural industry in the U.S. It recommends supporting programs consistent with the new guiding principle and encourages all levels of government to do the same.

Also of note, NASDA adopted an action item supporting Congressional engagement around the expansive impacts of Specialty Crops. This includes supporting increased flexibility for Specialty Crop Block Grants used by the states, as well as an increase in Specialty Crop funding in the next Farm Bill.

For more news from the meeting, view NASDA’s press release.