Maine Ag Commissioner Amanda Beal to Lead NASDA Through Pivotal Year
Beal joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss her election to NASDA’s presidency, challenges facing American agriculture, and her background as a Mainer and dairy farmer.
PORTLAND, Me. (RFD-TV) — Amanda Beal, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, has been elected as the incoming president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). Beal will lead the organization for the next year, focusing on advancing the U.S. farm sector and supporting state agriculture departments nationwide.
Beal joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss her election to NASDA’s presidency, the priorities outlined at the recent annual meeting, and the challenges facing American agriculture today.
Amanda Beal, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, was recently elected president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).
Photo by Benjamin Clay
In her interview with RFD-TV News, Beal shared reflections on growing up on her family’s dairy farm in Maine and how that background shaped her career in agriculture. She discussed stepping into her new leadership role at a pivotal time for the industry, highlighting her professional and personal motivations as NASDA president.
Beal also outlined the key priorities she plans to tackle with her team, including supporting farmers through labor, weather, and market challenges, as well as ensuring the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. She provided insight into the ongoing conversations around federal aid programs for farmers and shared her perspective on both short-term relief and long-term solutions.
Finally, Beal offered her perspective on what producers are experiencing in Maine during harvest and how NASDA plans to address broader issues impacting the farming community nationwide, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and proactive policy initiatives.
American soybean and corn leaders, along with Canada’s AgriFood sector, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in support of the trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Texas livestock producers face a heightened biosecurity threat as New World screwworm detections in northern Mexico coincide with FDA approval of the first topical treatment.
“The Expanding Access to Risk Protection (EARP) Final Rule streamlines requirements across multiple crops, responds to producer feedback, and strengthens USDA’s commitment to putting America’s farmers first,” said the USDA.
Rep. Michelle Fischbach shares her appreciation for rural communities and outlines how the Working Families Tax Cut is aimed to support farm families on RFD-TV’s Champions of Rural America.
While the 2018 Farm Bill received an extension under the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act, the National Pork Producers Council wants lawmakers to do more to support the sector.
WTO gauges point to agricultural raw materials trade growing more slowly than overall goods, reinforcing the need to manage export risk and monitor policy shifts closely.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!