Senate experts to speak on farm bill at Reno law conference

Apr 17, 2024

By Farms.com

This June, the University of Nevada, Reno will welcome agricultural policy veterans Fitzhugh Elder IV and Rosy Brummette to the 2nd Annual Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference. Their session, titled "Update from the Potomac - 2024 Farm Bill, Public Lands, & Related Federal Issues," will delve into the complexities of the Farm Bill and its implications for the western U.S.

As key figures in agricultural policy, Elder, the Republican staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, and Brummette, a policy advisor for U.S. Senator Michael F. Bennet, will discuss upcoming changes and challenges in federal legislation that could impact the region significantly. Topics will include updates on specialty crops, dairy, forestry, conservation efforts, and the burgeoning sector of carbon markets.

The conference, scheduled for June 13-14, will not only feature this critical session but also offer attendees the chance to earn continuing legal education credits, enhancing their professional development. With options for both in-person and online participation, the conference aims to reach a broad audience interested in the intersections of agriculture, law, and environmental stewardship.

This event is an essential opportunity for those involved in the agricultural sector to engage with leading experts and gain a deeper understanding of federal agricultural policies and their regional impacts. The National Agricultural Law Center has organized the conference to facilitate dialogue and learning on these vital issues, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the nation's agricultural community through education and legal expertise.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.