The beautiful Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C. was the backdrop for the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture (NASDA) meeting February 4-7, 2024. Bob Holbert, Mediation Director for NCAMP and FARM-VA, spoke to the group at the Southern Association of State Directors of Agriculture (SASDA) on Monday, February 5, 2024. The 13 heads of state departments of agriculture were joined by over 100 other staffers and interested parties. Bob gave an account of agricultural mediation and specifically State Certified Agricultural Mediation Programs funded by grants from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. This was followed by a question-and-answer session where the State Commissioners of Agriculture could ask about ag mediation.
Bob was able to speak with several of the state delegations about their programs (or lack of same).
Joe Guthrie, Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is the current president of the Southern Association, and it was he who had invited FARM-VA to have a presence at the meeting.
SASDA will next meet at their regional meeting in Williamsburg, VA, on June 15-18, 2024.