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NASDA members want trade prioritized in 2023 Farm Bill

Trade is a big priority for National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members as farm bill discussions continue in Congress.

Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, says trade programs could use a boost in funding to help expand market opportunities. “We can really do a good job of producing a crop, but the export markets are so important to us to hold that price support up,” Lamb said. “There’s just no doubt without strong exports, our market price wouldn’t be what it is today.”

He tells Brownfield he’d also like to see an increase in trade missions. “You start to learn how important those USDA trips are and the money and resources they can put into that,” Lamb said. “But that’s all put in place by these trips that are that are really funded through the farm bill.”

Lamb says funding for research needs to be another priority for lawmakers.

He spoke to Brownfield at NASDA’s annual meeting in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Monday.