Press Release  State Agricultural Leaders Host 2026 NEASDA Annual Meeting in Massachusetts

Amherst — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) hosted the 2026 annual meeting of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA) this week in Western Massachusetts, bringing together agricultural leaders from across the Northeast to strengthen regional partnerships, exchange best practices, and address shared challenges facing the agricultural sector. 

MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle, who currently serves as NEASDA’s President, welcomed leaders from nine other state departments of agriculture including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Throughout the meeting, members engaged in policy discussions, networking, panel discussions, and farm tours across the Pioneer Valley, showcasing the diversity, innovation and economic impact of Massachusetts agriculture. 

"Massachusetts is honored to host this year’s annual NEASDA meeting to foster constructive conversations among our colleagues, share our approaches to solving challenges, and learn more about our respective state-level agricultural sectors so we can find ways to continue supporting the industry,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “As a marquee event, we’re also proud to show off the best of what Massachusetts agriculture has to offer by showcasing our farms and Mass Grown products.”

The NEASDA Annual Meeting unites state agricultural executives, including commissioners, secretaries, and directors, with a diverse network of stakeholders, from farmers to federal agencies. Hosting this year's meeting allowed Massachusetts to lead critical and timely regional dialogues on economic sustainability, workforce development, and other policy issues impacting the entire Northeast agricultural sector. Through collaborative discussions and farm tours, attendees shared strategic ideas to help strengthen the region’s farm economy. Attendees discussed topics including how to counter the persistent loss of farmland in the region, and how support for mid-supply chain enterprises can strengthen farms by increasing market access.

The meeting set a record for attendance, with over one hundred sixty attendees from across the Northeast and country. Additionally, international delegates from Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and Canada attended the event and extended their trip to visit farms in the Pioneer Valley to learn about dairy innovation and value-added production. 

NEASDA is a regional division of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), founded in 1916.

For more information about the 2026 NEASDA meeting, please visit www.nasda.org.

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