NASDA MEMBERS WANT MORE RESEARCH, TRADE FUNDING IN ’23 FARM BILL

Oct 12, 2023

The CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says the US has fallen behind in funding ag research and trade programs.

Ted McKinney tells Brownfield research funding for land-grant institutions was a low priority in the last two farm bills and hopes that changes in the 2023 legislation. “And we’re now seeing some laboratories in universities, in some departments of ag waning. As you try to recruit new employees, you always have to be doing that. We’re losing the opportunity to continue to bring good talent into the world of food and agriculture.”

He says the next farm bill should include an increase in market access and foreign market development funding even though there has been some progress on trade policy like conversations with the UK and Indio-Pacific framework. “There is good in the discussions that are taking place. We cannot dismiss that. But so too, you’re only as good as you can get tariffs reduced and other barriers removed, and only then can you compete on a level playing field with others around the world.”

McKinney says his members also support an adequate safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.