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Miyamoto to serve as 2022-2023 NASDA President

Wyoming Director of Agriculture Doug Miyamoto is the 2022-2203 president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

He says he’s looking forward to serving in the role as work on the 2023 Farm Bill begins.   

“Particularly this year when we’ll be doing farm bill negotiations and having a tremendous amount of influence to be able to get the message out about the importance of the farm bill for the local farmers and ranchers that we all try to represent as best as we can,” he says. “I think I’m most looking forward to being able to do more for the industry.”

During the recent annual meeting, NASDA members charged the organization to ensure farm bill conversations include expanded funding for local and regional food processing; water quality improvement incentive programs; increased federal nutrition and food assistance; and reliable natural disaster assistance. 

Miyamoto says state ag directors, commissioners, and secretaries are passionate about the agriculture industry.

“Most of us get into these jobs because we have an inherent love for agriculture so we would like to advocate for that industry on the one hand, and then also ensure fair regulation of the industry on the other hand,” he says.

NASDA members elected a new slate of officers for the coming year. Also elected to NASDA’s Board of Directors were Indiana Director of Agriculture Bruce Kettler as vice president, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward as second vice president, and Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Amanda Beal as secretary-treasurer.

New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball will serve as NASDA’s Past President and Washington Director of Agriculture Derek Sandison will serve in the At-Large position. New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture Shawn Jasper, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate, Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen, and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg will serve as the Northeastern, Southern, Midwestern and Western representatives respectively.

Following his election, Miyamoto appointed the leadership of NASDA’s six policy committees.

Washington Director of Agriculture Derek Sandison is the chair and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is the vice chair of the Marketing and International Trade Committee.

Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse is the chair and New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte is the vice chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee.

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur is the chair and Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher is the vice chair of the Animal Agriculture Committee.

Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt is the chair and Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn is the vice chair of the Plant Agriculture and Pesticide Regulation Committee.

Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen is the chair and West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt is the vice chair of the Rural Development and Financial Security Committee.

California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross is the chair and New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher is the vice chair of the Food Systems and Nutrition Committee.