b'tional policy, Brady, ASTAssector. in very close races, Thatcher,theyre just busier than busy.senior director of govern- Were not going to have adirector of public policy atThatcher says instead of ment affairs, says. Were notlot of time to build new cham- Syngenta, says. No mattermaking the trek to D.C., its building what our prioritiespions, so were really going towho wins, its going to take aimportant to start connecting are going to be based onhave to hit the ground run- lot of effort, as Janae said, toon a local level as well. whos currently chair or whosning and tell our story soonerget in there and educate themTake better advantage of on a certain subcommitteerather than later in the nextand help them understandgoing to town hall meetings,or even whos currently inCongress, she says.how to be part of this family. she says, adding that often, Congress. For the independentIn particular, ThatcherSenators host town hall meet-Instead, Brady says thatsector, its also important tosays a lot of more moderateings with few participants. ASTAs focus during thisrealize that two years left incandidates are in tough races,Imagine having the Senator transitional time is easy: whatan Administration isnt a lot ofor a lot of problem-solverscommitted to be there for an are the needs of the seedtime to work on new policies,and collaborative members ofhour and you get to spend industry? What are policiescombined with responding toCongress decided not to runand share it with three people. that will help producers andthe oversight agenda Fischeragain this year.Thats really important.seed companies make thementioned, says Laura WoodYou cant go out in publicIts also important to do best business decisions toPeterson, owner of Laurathese days without peoplemore than just introduce support their customers goingWood Peterson Consulting. complaining that we haveyourself to your representa-forward? The new Congress will haveright-wing people or left-wingtive, Thatcher adds. Ensuring Setting up proposals onto hit the ground running givenpeoplebut we dont haveyoure prepared with your sound policy means that noissues on the horizon, includ- very many people who likemessage is important.matter the transitions, its pos- ing the competition agenda into reach across the aisle, sheYou cannot just think: sible to form new connectionsthe seed sector, pressures onsays. Unfortunately, I thinkOkay, I went and introduced with new policymakers. the economy, environmentalthats going to get worse aftermyself. Im done, she adds. But, Brady says midtermchallenges and the Russianthis midterm election. Representativeswhether elections always are difficultinvasion of Ukraine. theyre part of the Senate or for the seed industry. Why?These pressures changeTough Races and Friendsthe Houseneed to hear sto-There are friends to the indus- some of the questions aroundon the Hill ries from people, Brady adds. try on the Hill that might notpriority and funding streams.With friendly faces leavingWe work really hard to be reelected.Following the Bipartisanthe Hill and new faces comingbe that resource, Brady says. Come January, wereInfrastructure Law and Inflationinto office, its difficult to getBut at the end of the day, going to have a lot of newReduction Act, Wood Petersoneveryone up to speed in timehearing from the boots on the faces on the hill, she says. Iis wary of major authorizingfor policy discussions aroundground folks in our country previously worked for a chair- bills passing in the next term. the corner. But, theres a fewthat are dealing with these man in the Senate who retiredYoure going to have athings that can make theissues firsthand and on a at the end of 2020, whoddebt ceiling fight and splittransition easier for everyoneday-to-day basis is so critically been in Congress for dec- Congress, so its just goinginvolved. important. That message does ades. As we lose some of thatto be harder to get to yes onOften, you meet withmatter to help members of expertise, its really impor- spending, she says.agribusinesses or with farm- Congress or staff on the Hill tant for the industry to takeThe biggest challengeers, they assume you have tounderstand why these issues a look at the new membersfrom a company perspec- come to Washington D.C. toare so important.coming in and develop newtive? According to Mary Kayget to know their representa- Since a lot of staff mem-champions. We need folksThatcher, its exactly the sametive, Thatcher says. Thatsbers and representatives alike that understand policies andproblem Brady identifiedthereally backwards, especiallydont have an agriculture understand our challenges. loss of friendly faces on the Hill. now that we have more ofbackground, hearing stories With the upcoming 2023A lot of the people thata family-friendly Congresshelp form policies when it Farm Bill, Brady says forminghave been friendly to the agri-theyre often not here incomes to agriculture.connections quickly is evenculture industry and who haveWashington on MondaysOften the perspective is, more important for the seedworked really hard with us areand Fridays. When they are,whether youre a producer JANUARY 2023 SEEDWORLD.COM /73'