Julie Suarez Talks 2018 Farm Bill on "Extension Out Loud"

Extension out loud. Courtesy of CCE.

To kick off season 3 of the Cornell Cooperative Extension podcast, “Extension Out Loud,” CALS Associate Dean of Governmental and Community Relations, Julie Suarez joins the show to talk through the new 2018 farm bill. The bill, renewed every five years, is the main tool the federal government uses to regulate food and agricultural policy. Among other things, this years bill has important provisions regarding commercial hemp, urban agriculture, and an increased research budget, especially in the organic sector.
“It was a very pleasant surprise that the farm bill did effectively fully legalize the growth and sale of industrial hemp both within states that have existing permitted programs and also allows for the sale of products across state lines,” Suarez said. “New York, I think, is much better poised than many states in terms of meeting the economic growth potential of this newly authorized crop.”
Despite the government shutdown, Suarez is optimistic about the bill.
“I’m excited for the first time in my career, to actually see the federal government increase their investment in research.”
Listen to “Extension Out Loud” and hear Julie talk about the implications of the bill, Cornell’s role in the new hemp industry, and continued innovation in the farming community.