U.S. Senate staff to talk Farm Bill, other federal issues at 2nd Annual Western Ag and Environmental Law Conference
Fitzhugh Elder IV and Rosy Brummette will lead "Update from the Potomac" session
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 9, 2024
Fast facts:
- Farm Bill, federal funding on agenda of 2nd Annual Western Ag & Environmental Law Conference
- Senate staff to present “Update from the Potomac”
- Conference registration is online
- Livestream option is available
(512 words)
Download related photos of Elder IV, Brummette
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Two agricultural policy veterans will provide inside-the-Beltway
insights into the Farm Bill and other issues affecting the western United States during
the 2nd Annual Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, June 13-14.
During the session, “Update from the Potomac: 2024 Farm Bill, Public Lands, & Related
Federal Issues,” Fitzhugh Elder IV, Republican staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Rosy Brummette, policy advisor for U.S. Senator Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, will detail issues affecting the West.
The Western Conference will be held at the University of Nevada, Reno. Registration is online, and a livestream option is available for those unable to attend in person.
National Agricultural Law Center Director Harrison Pittman said Elder and Brummette
will provide a unique perspective.
“We’re very fortunate to have Fitz and Rosy join us for this year’s Western conference,”
he said. “They are both at the center of ag funding and policy development in D.C.
and bring unique perspectives on the latest developments and what to expect next on
the Farm Bill and other federal issues.”
Last November, Congress extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise
known as the 2018 Farm Bill, legislation to Sept. 30, 2024. The “Update from the Potomac”
session will detail what farmers, producers and legal professionals out West can expect
looking ahead of that end date, as well as what’s to come with other federal legislation
on specialty crops, dairy, forestry, conservation, federal crop insurance, carbon
markets and more.
“The economic impact of agriculture in the Western states is huge — $40 billion annually
in economic output in Colorado alone. The issues confronting Colorado — water, conservation,
nutrition, climate, public lands, and more — are uniquely shared across the region,”
Brummette said. “The Western Conference addresses many of these issues, and I’m looking
forward to engaging on the latest from D.C.”
Elder said he looks forward to discussing the latest updates from the federal level
with conference attendees.
“We’ll be approaching the home stretch of the 2024 election cycle in June. The Western
Conference is an excellent opportunity to take stock on where we are and what may
be ahead for the Farm Bill, appropriations, and a host of related issues important
to the Western ag industry.
“The National Agricultural Law Center is an outstanding resource to the nation’s agricultural
community, and the Western Conference is another example of the great work they do,”
Elder said.
Continuing education available
The Western Conference has been approved for continuing legal education credit in
Nevada, and will be submitted for CLE approval in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon
and Utah. Continuing education approval will also be sought from the American Society
of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The NALC will coordinate with attendees to
self-report in other states.
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge
to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing
agriculture.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural
and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal
policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many
others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information
to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity
institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials
in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for
Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu