Author – Samantha Fairbanks
This year’s Agriculture and Environmental Law Conference keynote panel will discuss the 2023 Farm Bill. The panel features Dr. Stephanie Mercier, an agricultural policy consultant, alongside Dr. Roger Cryan, the Chief Economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. The discussion will revolve around themes policymakers will likely consider in drafting the upcoming farm bill, including Farm Production and Conservation; Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Rural Development; and Food and Nutrition Security. The panelists will discuss proposed changes and updates to the next Farm Bill and their potential social and economic consequences. Additionally, the panel will examine some key constraining factors for the 2023 legislation, including a lack of additional delegated funding and the potential funding reallocation after the November election.
The 2023 Farm Bill panel is an opportunity for farmers, attorneys, and related stakeholders to explore this expansive legislation. The panel will highlight which parts of the Farm Bill are most important for farm landowners to pay attention to during this legislative cycle. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to ask panelists questions about the legislation.
Dr. Mercier is an agricultural policy consultant for Agricultural Perspectives and the Farm Journal Foundation. Before becoming a consultant, Dr. Mercier spent 14 years working on the Senate Agriculture committee. She worked directly on the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills while with the Senate Agriculture committee. Dr. Mercier recalls her excitement when she got to take an active role in drafting these landmark pieces of legislation. Dr. Mercier is enthusiastic about discussing the 2023 Farm Bill, especially regarding Maryland’s farming community.
To attend the 2023 Farm Bill panel and hear from Dr. Mercier, register for the 2022 Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference here. This year’s conference will be held in person and virtually on October 28, 2022, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Annapolis.
