Dr. Mike Strain to Lead National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Sep 27, 2016
Mike Strain and Betsy Ward
Betsy Ward-and-Mike Strain
BATON ROUGE, LA -- Elected last week, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., will serve as 2016-17 President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).  NASDA represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories and has been very involved in many policy fronts including Waters of the US (WOTUS), trade, and the Farm Bill.  

"I look forward to working with my counterparts in the states to realize our call to action for a renewed commitment to state-federal partnerships for the advancement of America’s farmers and ranchers,” Strain said.

“USA Rice has a very strong relationship with Commissioner Strain and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.  “He has been a vocal advocate for not only the Louisiana rice industry but the entire U.S. rice industry, and continues to administer critical programs such as the blackbird abatement program, and conduct important work supporting EPA approval of essential plant protection products.  We are fortunate to have Commissioner Strain at the helm of NASDA."  

Strain has been a strong supporter of opening markets for Louisiana and U.S.-grown rice and is a proponent of advancing the phytosanitary protocol that would ease access to trade with China.  Recently, he led a Louisiana delegation to Cuba that included members of USA Rice.  Additionally, he worked with the U.S. Secretary of State's office to help navigate issues with trade in Iraq.

In the wake of the 2016 floods that impacted much of Louisiana including the rice industry, Strain continues to work closely with rice leadership, USDA, Louisiana’s congressional delegation and other members of Congress, and the Governor to secure additional appropriations to assist those with uninsured agricultural losses.
 

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