Agriculture and Rural Development

Publications and Links

May 2008

NCSL has written several reports, magazine articles and news briefs on a variety of agricultural and rural development issues and policies, including trade, biotechnology, pesticides, and farming. In addition, NCSL works with state departments of agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Links to many of the NCSL publications on agriculture and rural development are listed below, along with links to state departments of agriculture and to USDA.

Access to Healthy Food

"Food Fight," October/November 2007 State Legislatures by Doug Farquhar.
Evolution of Increased Access to Local, Fresh Produce in New Mexico, May 2005, Healthy Community Design by Leslie Robbins.
State Policies for Increasing Access to Healthy Foods, May 2005, Healthy Community Design by Leslie Robbins.

Agricultural Trade

"Cuba: To Trade or Not to Trade?" January 2003 LegisBrief, By Cheryl Runyon.
"Opening Trade with Cuba," December 2001 State Legislatures by Cheryl Runyon and Doug Farquhar.
"International Trade of New Agricultural Products From Biotechnology," LegisBrief, August/September 2001.
Agriculture and Trade Advisor Newsletter.

Avian Flu

Avian Flu's Effect on Agriculture, January 2007 LegisBrief, by Doug Farquhar
Avian Flu: Impacts on Agriculture a Web-Assisted Audio Conference, 2006

Biotechnology

USDA's Role in Federal Regulation of Biotechnology, Web Brief
"Biotechnology-A New Tool for Economic Development," One First Reading, March 2003 State Legislatures by Glen Andersen.
"Labeling Genetically Modified Foods," October 2001, a report by Carla Kohler and David Naftzger.
"Playing God with Potatoes: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," October 2001 State Legislatures.
International Trade of New Agricultural Products From Biotechnology," LegisBrief, August/September 2001.
"Regulation of Genetically-Modified Foods," Chapter 12 of Mapping Public Policy for Genetic Technologies by Barbara Foster.

Farming

Beginning Farmer Programs by David Naftzger February 2000 Volume 8, Number 9

Invasive Species

Invasive Species Legislation
"The Invasion of Exotic Species," LegisBrief, February 2001 by L. Cheryl Runyon.
Invasive Species Web Report, February 2001 by L. Cheryl Runyon.

Pesticides

"Pesticides and Human Health," Environmental Health Series, July 1999, No. 1, by Glen Andersen.

Rural Economic Development

"Rural Development Legislation," LegisBrief, Februray 2005, Vol. 13 No. 10.
"ORCA--Not a Killer, but a Whale of a Texas Agency: Creation of the Office of Rural Community Affairs," July/August 2004 State Legislatures.
"States Bring Rural Issues Into Focus," October 2003 LegisBrief by Monica Kearns and Ian Pulsipher.
Meeting the Challenge of Rural Development, 2002 by Monica Kerns
Rural Landscapes