NCGA’s Risk Management and Transportation Action Team (RMTAT) oversees much of NCGA’s public policy work on issues including the farm bill’s commodity, crop insurance and disaster programs; commodity markets; and transportation and infrastructure.
RMTAT plays a key role in the development of NCGA policy and is looking to have an impactful 2021 and beyond. The team has a full plate of issues to consider for the coming year. U.S. infrastructure improvements, including waterways and rail systems, to keep a competitive edge for American agriculture, along with implementation of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), will be a focus for the team.
RMTAT will also look ahead to the next farm bill reauthorization, evaluating current farm bill programs, looking for areas of improvement to existing programs, and continuing to support strong risk management tools essential to corn growers. Federal responses to weather-related disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic will also be on the team’s agenda for the year.
With a new Administration and a new Congress convening this month, RMTAT will be working to deepen existing relationships with policy makers on both sides of the aisle and building ties with new leaders in Congress and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
RMTAT consists of 13 NCGA grower leaders, including a liaison from the NCGA Board of Directors; 2 state staff; and 3 NCGA staff members. The 2021 RMTAT Chairman is South Dakota farmer Doug Noem.
“One farmer doesn’t have a lot of clout on their own but when we all work together, we have a powerful voice. NCGA and the organization’s Action Teams are a great example of what grassroots organizations can accomplish,” said Noem.
The 2021 RMTAT team will hold its first meeting next week. NCGA’s January 2021 Action Team meetings, held virtually this year, kick off next week with members of NCGA’s seven Action Teams meeting to set the organization’s priorities for the year.
*This story is one in a series of stories this month where NCGA will be highlighting the work of each Action Team and outlining the priorities for each team in 2021. You can view all of the stories at ncga.com and click on In the News. You can also find a full list of NCGA’s Action Teams here.