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ALBANY — State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball was elected to Carry out the Nationwide Affiliation of State Divisions of Agriculture 2021-2022 President.

Ball formally accepted the designation at NASDA’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky A pair of weeks in the past.

“I am honored to be elected NASDA’s new president and To steer as our states work collectively To Make constructive that agriculture continues to develop and thrive,” said Ball. “I’ve prolonged valued The prospect To collect with A few of Definitely one of the biggest minds in agriculture, our commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, As properly as to our group companions, collaborating by way of NASDA to advocate for and implement change Which will have An enduring influence on our shared enterprise. The insurance coverage policies set forth and carried out by NASDA this yr will ship on our collective dedication To deal with An important and pressing agricultural Factors with right now whereas strengthening our farms and meals current for The Long time period.”

Ball was appointed to Commissioner of The mannequin Ny State Division of Agriculture and Markets by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014.

Ball comes from a household of farmers. His grandparents have been lifeprolonged dairy farmers. At 18, he started his profession as a farm worker on a vegetable farm. He later turned operations supervisor of That very similar farm. After 20 yrs there, in 1993 The prospect arose to be a farm proprietor and for the previous 27 yrs, he has been the proprietor and operator of Schoharie Valley Farms in Schoharie, NY, which consists of 200 acres and produces A Quantity of vegetable crops, small fruits and greenhouse crops. The farm serves each retail and wholesale consumers by way of an onsite farm market and ships to brokers and eating places Inside the native space As properly as to NY metropolis.

Ball has held Pretty A pair of positions within agriculture and group organizations On the native, state and national diploma, collectively with The mannequin Ny State Vegetable Growers Affiliation, The mannequin Ny Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau and the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce.

Ball beforehand served as Vice chairman on the Nationwide Affiliation of State Divisions of Agriculture Board of Directors.

As president, Ball will assist information the implementation of the insurance coverage policies adopted at NASDA’s 2021 annual meeting, collectively with developing emergency meals current networks; emphasizing the significance of free interstate commerce; rising the hemp enterprise; and promoting agricultural workforce reform. That is Together with NASDA’s precedence issues, That are commerce, meals safety, meals methods, workforce enchancment, infrastructure and performance, and local climate resiliency.

NASDA members additionally elected A mannequin new slate of officers for The approaching yr.  To Search out out extra, please go to nasda.org/RedefiningAgriculture.

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which recurrents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states And 4 U.S. territories. NASDA develops and enhances American agriculture by way of coverage, companionships and public engagement.