By Daniel Fowler, NAICC President
Since 2005, NAICC has jointly sponsored multiple winter “Focus on” workshops. These two-day trainings have covered numerous topics focused on boots-on-the-ground implementation of sound agronomics with new technologies. Past cosponsoring organizations have included Info Ag, American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers, Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants, Iowa Independent Crop Consultants Association, and Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association. On March 4-6, this biannual event will be cohosted by North Carolina Agricultural Consultant Association and called “Focus on Ag.”
During NAICC visits to Capitol Hill, the government affairs committee has strengthened and expanded our relationships with members of Congress and multiple agencies such as EPA, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, etc. During these conversations, it was suggested we could play a pivotal role at county and state level implementation of Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations.
A Unified Voice For Ag
This past summer, NAICC and Weed Science of America hosted local EPA, Fish and Wildlife and other regulatory groups at a farm tour in Wisconsin. Organizing opportunities like these to obtain one-on-one conversations and sharing our expertise is proving to be highly effective to communicate with government officials in the field.
As we try to communicate at the grower, county, state and national levels, there is a need for us to have an informed and unifying message. Each NAICC state affiliate will be given the opportunity to appoint a liaison to the NAICC government affairs committee in hopes this will strengthen our relationships and the flow of information. This subcommittee can be an outlet for each regional group to give their input on national issues as well as receive the latest information from NAICC contacts in Washington, D.C. Increased involvement, with a better exchange of information, can help us leverage our unique position as the independent voice between growers, government agencies and other stakeholders.
Implementation of ESA
Part of this year’s “Focus on Ag” will be the implementation of ESA at the farm level. This is a continuation of focusing on boots on the ground implementation, this time in a changing regulatory environment. It’s also part of a concerted effort to strengthen our relationships at the local level by providing educational opportunities for our members. We hope other state organizations will see the value in these efforts by participating in the new government affairs subcommittee and perhaps reach out to host an event in the future.
