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NASDA members share priority issues impacting their states

NASDA members are meeting with their counterparts in New Mexico this week and sharing insights on top priority issues impacting their states.   

Thom Petersen, the Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Agriculture, says it has been valuable to meet with other state ag directors, commissioners, and secretaries and hear about what issues are impacting them.

“Like African swine fever— how are we prepared for that, how is trade and prevented planting acres impacting the industry,” he says. “It really is helpful to bounce ideas off one another and see how we stack up to other states.”

Audio: Thom Petersen, Minnesota

Ohio Director of Agriculture Dorothy Pelanda says she is looking forward to hearing about other state hemp programs. 

“I’m excited to meet directors from other states and talk to them about issues such as hemp programs— things that are brand new to Ohio with the governor signing a bill to law and July,” she says.

Audio: Dorothy Pelanda, Ohio

Nebraska Ag Director Steve Wellman says issues might vary from state to state, but there are also a lot of similarities.

“Talking with them about how they’re dealing with weather issues in their state and livestock disease traceability or prevention,” he says. “There are a lot of common factors.”

Audio: Steve Wellman, Nebraska