Agricultural News
Meet Dr. Barb Glenn, the Woman Behind the Scenes Driving US Agricultural Policy
Tue, 25 Jun 2019 13:21:45 CDT
Dr. Barb Glenn has maintained a lifelong passion for the agriculture industry. A dairy cattle nutritionist by trade, Glenn says her career eventually morphed into government affairs. Today, she serves as the chief executive officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which drives agricultural policy on state and federal levels by connecting and fostering relationships among state and national ag leaders. Glenn is visiting Oklahoma City this week for an organizational conference being hosted by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays is covering the event and had the chance to catch up with Glenn to discuss a variety of issues the association is currently tackling from advocating on producers' behalf for disaster relief from the federal government to the ratification of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and more. You can listen to their complete conversation by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of the page.
"Our mission is really to create and enhance sound agricultural policy and we do that by forging partnerships among our state departments of agriculture, the federal government, Capital Hill, and all our stakeholders in agriculture," Glenn said, describing the current landscape of ag policy. "American agriculture is really being hit hard. NASDA has been pushing and supporting disaster relief for our farmers and ranchers. Of course, this is a double-whammy with our trade tariffs and their impact on our producers as well. So, it has been a perfect storm and we're trying to bring resources back to our farmers and ranchers who desperately need them."
This is common of the work done daily by NASDA and its members, who collaborate to advance policy that helps improve the ag industry. That includes the association's top priority right now, which is to ratify the USMCA.
"We have to speak the talk of rural America," Glenn remarked in an appeal for the ag community, dependent on trade. "Every member of Congress knows USMCA is good for the United States of America as well as Canada and Mexico and we've got to get it across the finish line. That action is critical. We also need to see more support from the Market Facilitation Program to help those hit by the tariffs. We hope this all weathers us through this multiple storm we're having."
To that end, Glenn maintains that ultimately resolving our various trade conflicts is in the best interest of our farmers and ranchers - meaning that a settlement needs to be reached with all those trading partners the Administration has entered into renegotiations with including Japan where a bilateral agreement would have significant impact on the viability of the ag industry. In addition to that, she asserts that more investments must be made in food and agricultural research to keep the US competitive in the global marketplace.
You can listen to Glenn speak more about these topics and others with Hays, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below.
More on Dr. Barb Glenn
Dr. Barbara Glenn recently joined the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) as CEO on August 18, 2014.
Dr. Glenn is a scientist with decades of experience as a policy researcher and advocate for agriculture. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Science and Regulatory Affairs for CropLife America, where she was responsible for developing policies and regulations to support agriculture through crop protection. Prior to joining CropLife America, Dr. Glenn served as Managing Director of the Animal Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture Section of the Biotechnology Industry Association in Washington, DC.
Dr. Glenn holds a B.S. in animal science and a Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition from the University of Kentucky. She previously worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and the Federation of Animal Science Societies.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska and raised in Centerville, Ohio, Dr. Glenn developed a passion for agriculture from her parents and her involvement in 4-H. She lives on a small farm in Maryland with her husband and three children, and serves on various boards for farm bureau and 4-H.
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