Farmers in the US get a boost from NASDA policy

Sep 20, 2023

Imagine being a farmer, nurturing your crops, and then out of nowhere, a lawsuit comes knocking. Quite a setback, isn't it? But there's good news on the horizon. During their annual gathering, the folks at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) made a landmark decision. They're rolling out a brand-new policy, a kind of shield, if you will, for our dear farmers and foresters. Why? To ensure they don't get bogged down by those pesky nuisance lawsuits. I got the scoop from NASDA's main man, CEO Ted McKinney. He shared, "This isn't just a policy; it's a promise to our farmers. As urban areas expand, we've seen our farmlands shrink. Our farmers aren’t just tilling soil; they’re feeding nations, making sure we've got food on our tables. They need, and deserve, this protection." But here's a sobering fact: A report from USDA has flagged a worrying trend. The number of farms is dwindling. We had 2.2 million farms in 2007, but by 2022? Only 2 million. And in the past ten years, we've lost a whopping 20 million acres of farmland. This makes one thing clear: farming isn't just a profession; it's a legacy. And with NASDA's new policy, we're not just protecting our present; we're sowing seeds for a secure future.Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.