Ted McKinney, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture since 2021, will address the topic “Federal and International Policy: What’s Going On?” on Nov. 4 in Indianapolis at the 2025 annual conference of the American Society of Agricultural Consultants. (ASAC).
Prior to NASDA, McKinney was the first Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2017 to 2021. In this role, he led the development and implementation of U.S. agricultural trade policy, opened and expanded foreign market access, and represented the U.S. in high-level international negotiations. He also oversaw the U.S. Codex Alimentarius program and was actively involved in global food system outreach, including engagement with the United Nations Food Systems Summits.
Before joining the USDA, McKinney served as Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, appointed by then-Governor Mike Pence. His private-sector experience includes 19 years at Dow AgroSciences in various Government and Public Affairs roles, and 14 years with Elanco, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, where he served as Director of Global Corporate Affairs.
McKinney has been deeply involved in agriculture and civic life, including roles such as founder and Co-Chair of the National FFA Convention Local Organizing Committee and board member of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and International Food Information Council.
He earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, where he received the G.A. Ross Award and was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus.
McKinney joins the Tuesday morning speaking line-up that includes Rusty Rumley, JD, LL.M, National Ag Law Center; James Mintert, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University; and Todd Janzen, Attorney, Janzen Schroeder Agricultural Law, LLC.
Rumley, back by popular request, will cover Hot Topics in Ag Law and Policy; Dr. Mintert, will address the U.S Economy Outlook: What Farmers are Telling Us; and Janzen will delve into Ag Technology and the Law.”
The committee has also finalized a full line-up of speakers for the Monday presentations that will follow the morning ag tours. Those topics include Vet Medicine & Highly Infectious Disease, BioTown Ag and What I Wish I Knew Then/What I Know Now, which will be an Ag Consultant Panel Discussion.
More details can be found on the conference website page at: https://www.agconsultants.org/2025_annual_conference.php
The conference registration link, as well as the hotel information and reservation link, can be found on that page. The venue is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis North, 3912 Vincennes Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268. There is also a link to sponsorship opportunities on that page.
Details continue to be added to the conference website page as they become available.
About the American Society of Agricultural Consultants (ASAC)
The American Society of Agriculture Consultants (ASAC) is a non-profit organization whose members represent a diverse range of disciplines in the agriculture industry. ASAC’s membership is comprised primarily of experienced consultants boasting a wide array of expertise. Their business models range from sole proprietorships to leadership roles in larger, multi-consultant organizations, which cover a wide geographical area. To learn more about how ASAC can help you grow your agricultural consulting business, go to www.agconsultants.org.
