L-R: Davie Stephens, Mary Kay Thatcher, Karis Gutter, Jon Doggett
The panel was moderated by ASTA Senior Director of Government Affairs Janae Brady and featured Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta; Karis Gutter, Corteva Agriscience; Jon Doggett, National Corn Growers Association; and Kentucky farmer and past chair of the American Soybean Association Davie Stephens.
Brady says major current issues for ASTA include climate, competition, intellectual property rights, trade, supply chain, and the bioeconomy, but most important in the coming year will be the farm bill. “ASTA was directly involved in the 2018 Farm Bill getting policies in place that impact the industry, particularly in the research title,” she said, noting that ASTA is already providing input on the upcoming farm bill discussions, providing testimony last week at a Senate Agriculture committee hearing.
Lots more in the conversation from different perspectives:
ASTACSS Political Lay of the Land panel 47:48
Doggett, who is retiring as CEO of NCGA at the end of the year after more than 20 years with the organization, lamented the ability of Congress to even do basic tasks like pass spending bills on time. “The House and Senate ag committees are the last bastions of bipartisanship in Washington DC and that is eroding,” said Doggett. “A Congress that can go ahead and blow off the deadlines for spending bills and not deal with really important things that effect millions of Americans…what are they going to do with a farm bill when things get more and more contentious.”
Chuck talked with Jon a little bit about his career on Capitol Hill for the past 34 years as he prepares to move on to whatever comes next.
ASTACSS Interview with Jon Doggett, NCGA 6:06
2022 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo Photo Album
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