News

Setting priorities for 2025

The new board for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has set its priorities for the coming year. 

NASDA president and Arkansas Ag Secretary Wes Ward says there are long-term concerns about the farm economy.

“The ability to be financially viable into the next year also ties in very nicely with the timing of the farm bill discussions as well, so there’s been a big push throughout the U.S. and throughout the agriculture industry on just the importance of the farm bill and trying to get that done,” he says.

NASDA senior director of public policy RJ Karney says all eyes are on the upcoming presidential election. 

“The lame duck session is going to really fill in what needs to still be accomplished going into 2025 for our own internal process,” he says. “Our staff is going to work very closely with our Board of Directors, our new chairs and vice chairs of our committees. Congress in the lame duck session will really dictate a lot of what boxes get checked.”

Brownfield participated in a media panel with Ward and Karney at the 2024 NASDA Annual Meeting.