The relationship between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the agriculture sector has always been tenuous. Rod Snyder works to bridge the divide and ensure farmers have a seat at the table.
Snyder grew up with deep agricultural roots in Jefferson County, West Virginia, where he still resides on his family farm. He has a deep appreciation for the heritage, legacy, and lifestyle of farming.
It’s this connection to the land that motivates him to commute daily by train to his office in Washington, D.C. In October 2021, he was appointed by President Biden to his current role of senior advisor for agriculture at the EPA.
SF: What inspired you to get involved in politics and public service?
RS: Growing up, I had a front row seat to public service. My father spent nearly 30 years in elected office, including two decades in the West Virginia state senate. When I graduated with a political science degree, I made a conscious decision to go into agriculture policy. I felt like it was a way I could continue to contribute to my family’s agricultural background and legacy even though I wasn’t actively farming myself. That’s made this work very personal for me.
This story is from the December 2023 edition of Successful Farming.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2023 edition of Successful Farming.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY MAKES THE WORKPLACE SAFER
From simple gadgets, like smartwatches, to systems that monitor employee health, tech is a valuable safety tool.
INVESTED IN COMMUNITY
Aaron LaPointe is honoring his elders and bringing hope to the youth of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
ROLL-AROUND SHOP SUPPORT
cool tools for Farming
MANAGING BACTERIAL DISEASES
Accurate diagnosis is the first step in a control strategy.
GROWING 200-BUSHEL SOYBEANS
World record holder Alex Harrell shares tips on taking soybean yields to the next level.
TRANSFER THE FARM NOW OR LATER?
Problem: Is it better to start transferring the daily operation to the farm heir or focus on the farm estate plan first?
Pork Powerhouses 2023
THE 36 LARGEST U.S. PIG PRODUCERS REDUCED SOWS BY 17,348 IN 2023, THE FIRST NET LOSS PORK POWERHOUSES® REPORTED SINCE 2010.
DISEASE SCOUTING IN THE DIGITAL ERA
Digital platforms offer new approaches to identify diseases and time fungicide applications to save time and protect yield.
SHIPPING STRUGGLES
The Mississippi River may present challenges again in 2024.
SPRAYER PRICING, AVAILABILITY BACK TO NORMAL
Upgrade options improve older equipment's appeal.