Letter
Dear Representative:
As you begin debating H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) wants to share its position on select amendments.
NASDA is a nonpartisan organization representing the unified voice of the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the state departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. State departments of agriculture are co-regulators with the federal government and strong advocates for American agriculture.
NASDA Supports:
• Amendment #2 – Woody Biomass in the Renewable Fuel Standard
o NASDA supports modernizing the definition of woody biomass in the Renewable Fuel Standard to allow for increased economic opportunities for timber-producing states.
• Amendment #8 – SNAP Eligible Hot Rotisserie Chicken
o NASDA supports national feeding and nutrition assistance programs, encouraging the consumption of foods that ensure adequate nutrition and energy intake to support overall dietary needs and health.
• Amendment #19 – Specialty Crop Block Grants
o This bipartisan amendment preserves the viability of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
• Amendment #23 – Agricultural Mental Health Study
o NASDA supports the enhanced understanding of mental health needs for agricultural professionals and supports the proposal to leverage existing
frameworks of the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in partnership with state departments of agriculture.
• Amendment #24 – Biomanufacturing Guaranteed Loans
o NASDA supports USDA’s Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program and recognizes the need for increased lending capacity to support critical biomanufacturing facilities.
• Amendment #29 – Office of Seafood
o The Office of Seafood would ensure seafood producers are recognized and incorporated into USDA programs and policies, ensuring the viability of the seafood sector.
• Amendment #44 – Biological Pest Controls
o NASDA supports the use of biological control tools as a successful strategy for pest control.
• Amendment #45 – Promoting Access to Local Agriculture
o NASDA supports policies that expand the integration of local and regional foods into federal nutrition assistance and hunger relief programs, creating new market opportunities for small- and medium-sized farmers—particularly specialty crop producers—and improving access to a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
NASDA Opposes:
• Amendment #14 – Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Categorization
o NASDA opposes this amendment, as fresh produce is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness outbreaks; fruits and vegetables typically eaten raw are not typically considered “low-risk”.
• Amendment #22 – RFID Tags
o NASDA supports the funding and resources needed to maintain a robust state and federal animal health infrastructure necessary to facilitate early detection, surveillance, response, and control activities to prevent and mitigate both domestic and foreign animal diseases. The threat of a foreign animal disease impacting the United States protein market is real and tangible, recently evidenced by the outbreak of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza and ongoing concerns of African Swine Fever and New World screwworm.
• Amendment #28 – Pesticide Regulations
o NASDA supports sections 10205, 10206, and 10207 of H.R. 7567 as written. NASDA believes Section 10205 reaffirms existing responsibilities of EPA and state departments of agriculture with respect to pesticide regulations. NASDA appreciates specific language in this section that affirms existing labeling uniformity requirements under FIFRA 24(b) and clarifies intent to not impede states’ authorities under Sections 24(a) and 24(c). Additionally, NASDA supports state primacy in pesticide regulations (10206) and supports efforts to eliminate duplicative federal permitting requirements once a pesticide has been approved by EPA (10207).
Thank you for your consideration of these amendments.
Sincerely,
Ted McKinney
CEO
NASDA
