The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, have chosen five issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2024. They include the 2024 Farm Bill, food safety, labor reform, pesticide regulation and PFAS.

“These issues were chosen for the organization’s 2024 focus as NASDA members see urgent need for action in these areas to support farmers and ranchers in their ability to grow our nation’s food, fiber and fuel. Further, we believe these are the areas where state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to champion policy solutions this year,” says NASDA CEO Ted McKinney.

NASDA has published one-pagers offering background and insight for each policy priority.

2024 Farm Bill

NASDA implores Congress to expedite passage of a unified farm bill that secures a commitment to American agriculture, notably its farmers and ranchers, and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most.

Explore More Food Safety

Food Safety

State departments of agriculture are the frontline in protecting consumers against foodborne illness and food contamination. NASDA will continue to advocate for funding state Food Safety Modernization Act programs to protect our food supply and ensure farmers across the country are equipped with the information needed to apply Food Safety Modernization Act requirements on their farms.

Labor Reform

Farmers and ranchers need a legal, reliable guest worker program that provides a workforce that supports farms and ranches and treats workers respectfully. Reforming the H-2A program would provide farmers and ranchers with a legal and reliable workforce while curbing rising food prices and maintaining our global competitiveness.

Pesticide Regulation

In 43 states and Puerto Rico, the state department of agriculture is a co-regulatory partner with EPA and is responsible for administering, implementing and enforcing the production, labeling, distribution, sale, use and disposal of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act which establishes a rigorous, scientific evaluation and review process for these tools. EPA has stated that the agency faces several challenges in developing timely and effective strategies that protect listed endangered species in a way that is both practical for pesticide users to implement and timely to protect species. NASDA, as always, stands ready to work with EPA on developing an Endangered Species Act compliance strategy that growers can support and comply with while safeguarding endangered species.

PFAS

Per-and-poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are steadily emerging as a major issue to society at large, including farmers and ranchers in the U.S. NASDA supports urgently funding additional federal research to answer questions and concerns regarding the presence of PFAS in our society and the degree to which it presents risk. NASDA also supports developing strategies to address the presence of PFAS should it be found on or around farms.

Read more about each of the 2024 policy priorities and all NASDA’s policy work at NASDA.org/policy.