RDL & Associates Service Offerings

RDL & Associates can help you navigate the uncertain public policy and political landscapes. With decades of experience in farm bill politics and related policy development, RDL & Associates has the expertise and relationships to advance your agenda.

Due to our strategic partnerships in Washington, D.C. and numerous state capitols, we are uniquely qualified to develop a strategy from the “ground up” that will ensure your issues are heard.

For those who are curious how public policy is made and what the political trade winds might bring, we also have you covered!

Our team is available to speak to your company or organization to provide updates regarding the policy and political landscape. Contact us when planning your next event and we’ll deliver the “inside scoop”.

RDL & Associates is committed to providing quality service to ensure successful outcomes and results for clients.

Relationships

Relationships are the cornerstone of success. RDL & Associates has the experience necessary to develop the relationships your organization needs in the policy arena. Our years of experience have allowed us to build the ties needed to guide your organization through the policy landscape, create an effective rapport with legislators and stakeholders and direct you to the policymakers who can help fulfill your organization’s goals.  RDL & Associates has the credibility and skill to help you build the personal links required in the modern policy process.

Government Relations

Our company is exceptionally skilled at providing clients with advice on how to navigate the bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., as well as at the state and local levels of government. Whether you are looking to tackle a specific legislative issue or are simply interested in developing stronger relationships with key legislators and government entities, RDL & Associates can formulate and implement a strategy to help you achieve your objectives.  By analyzing issues, developing arguments, and offering hands-on attention to help you achieve your goals, RDL & Associates is equipped to provide lobbying and consulting services targeted to all of your organization’s policy interests.

Strategic Counsel & Crisis Management

During the most challenging and sensitive business circumstances, how an organization responds often governs the extent of damage to its reputation. RDL & Associates provide strategic and tactical counsel to corporations, small business, and ad hoc organizations who would like to increase or alter their profile or who need honest, informed guidance in solving a specific political or public perception issue.

Project Management

RDL & Associates assists clients in the development and implementation of programs or projects designed to create new opportunities for their customers or members.  Our extensive background in the private and public sectors benefit our clients’ in the development and facilitation of strategic planning for organizations seeking to examine its structure, mission, or programs.  We are also experienced in identifying issues and assisting in reputation risk management.

Coalition Building & Grassroots Mobilization

Lobbying alone cannot ensure that your message will be heard in Washington, D.C. or the State Capitol. A broad-based demonstration of public support through grassroots mobilization is a key component of a successful campaign.  In the modern legislative environment, businesses and organizations need to adapt and be more effective in getting voters and local citizens to advocate issues to Congress and the Administration on their behalf.

RDL & Associates political insight and experience in coalition building and grassroots mobilization is unrivaled by any other firm. We specialize in the development of themes and messages capable of building active public awareness of your efforts.  RDL & Associates can utilize our strategic alliances to build coalitions, mobilize stakeholders and engage like-minded individuals, and gain earned media. Our goal is to identify targets and to communicate with them directly and effectively to ensure our clients’ success.

Private Coaching

In addition to the broad range of consulting and strategic services offered by RDL & Associates, private coaching is available to individuals or organizations who seek intensive training in the art of lobbying, and the utilization of digital media platforms.  Participants will benefit from Dave Ladd’s 20+ years in and around the policy and political process and will gain insight into strategies and tactics for effectively delivering their message.

Give us a call at (651) 247-5458 or drop us a note at RDLassociatesGA@gmail.com to discuss how we can assist your organization in achieving success.

Issue Update: Prospects for the Next Farm Bill

Dave Ladd, President of RDL & Associates, was recently a guest of Scott Colombe with 950AM KWAT to discuss prospects for passage a federal farm bill.

Media Release: RDL & Associates Announces Partnership with Power Play Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 29, 2023

RDL & Associates Announces Partnership with Power Play Partners

Collaboration provides clients with a full-service government affairs program

RDL & Associates and Power Play Partners entered a joint venture to provide a seamless government affairs strategy for clients. The collaboration between the two firm’s federal and state government affairs teams creates additional opportunities and efficiencies, thereby providing a true team approach when it comes to an organization’s management of their political capital.

The practice consists of state and federal government affairs and communications firms throughout the United States and Washington, D.C. and provides clients with a full-service government affairs program – both State and Federal – under one contract.

Power Play Partners founded by Todd Henderson, is a professional public policy, government and media relations firm for clients that range from telecommunications, health care, public safety, cable utilities and tort reform to nuclear energy, gaming, and numerous others.

For nearly 30 years, Henderson has delivered winning results for clients in Iowa political campaigns having managed or served as general consultant to candidates for local, statewide, and federal office. Additionally, Henderson has a proven record of success in writing, producing, and placing direct mail, radio/television and digital media for Power Play Partners’ political clients and independent expenditures for Super PACs.

A seasoned veteran of issue advocacy efforts, Henderson has directed numerous issue advocacy campaigns during the first in the nation Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary for groups like Citizens for Long Term Care, Citizens For Better Medicare and the Iraq-America Freedom Alliance.

Henderson previously served as Chief Operations Officer and Director of the Business Services Division for the Iowa Secretary of State office and Media Spokesman for Alliant Energy.

Dave Ladd, Founder and President of RDL & Associates, has extensive experience in the political process and the development of public policy. He has a broad range of contacts at the federal, regional, and state levels and he has developed relationships with key leaders in production agriculture, the renewable energy sector, agribusiness, financial institutions, state and federal government and Capitol Hill.

For additional information regarding RDL & Associates, please visit https://rdlassociates.wordpress.com/.  Information regarding Powers Play Partners, please visit www.powerplaypartners.online.

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House Republicans Urge Action on Farm Bill

A group of 61 House Republicans, led by Representative Brad Finstad (MN-1) led 61 of his House Republican colleagues, has sent a letter to newly-elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-4) reaffirming their commitment to passage of a Farm Bill that supports rural America and invests in critical programs for agricultural producers, including a strong farm safety net and crop insurance program.

In doing so, they asked Speaker Johnson to prioritize the passage of a strong, effective Farm Bill as soon as possible.

Link to Letter: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7123696870584971264

Political Headwinds and the Next Farm Bill

Dave Ladd, President of RDL & Associates, was recently a guest of KWAT Radio’s Scott Colombe to discuss the political headwinds faced by Congress as they work to craft the next farm bill.

For additional information regarding this, or any other issue of interest, please contact RDL & Associates as rdlassociatesga@gmail.com.

Op-Ed: Renewable Fuel Standard Revision Will Undermine Midwest Biofuels

Generous subsidies and tax credits are just not enough these days. To achieve their green dream energy goals, environmental extremists at all levels of government are coercing Americans to fall in line and go electric—and the nightmarish assault on consumer choice is only just beginning. 

Across the country, a slew of state regulatory proposals seek to mandate the sale of electric vehicles. Never mind if you don’t want one—by 2035, you’ll struggle to find a new gas or diesel car to buy since regulations could outlaw them in a fifth of all states—with Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware most recently joining the gang of California, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine.

While state environmental boards (these regulations are mostly bypassing state legislatures) are blindly following California’s utopian vision of banning reliable gas cars in favor of expensive EVs, what’s happening on the federal level through President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is equally egregious.

Like California, EPA is now openly discussing banning sales of most gasoline and diesel vehicles in the United States in fewer than ten years. But even before that, EPA has been stealthily working to electrify even the most sacred Midwest biofuel policy, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

In June, EPA will need to finalize its RFS “set” proposal establishing how much renewable fuel the United States will need to consume as a percentage of gasoline and diesel over the next two years. We’ll also find out next month whether EPA is going to move forward with inserting a massive electric vehicle provision into the RFS that essentially will be a cash influx straight to electric vehicle manufacturers like Ford, GM, and Tesla.

As a reminder, the RFS was first passed by Congress in 2005 to increase American energy independence and promote home-grown biofuels by requiring refiners to blend ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels into their petroleum products. To comply with the law, oil refiners must acquire and submit Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) to EPA every year, where each RIN corresponds with actual biofuel gallons.

While state environmental boards (these regulations are mostly bypassing state legislatures) are blindly following California’s utopian vision of banning reliable gas cars in favor of expensive EVs, what’s happening on the federal level through President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is equally egregious.

Like California, EPA is now openly discussing banning sales of most gasoline and diesel vehicles in the United States in fewer than ten years. But even before that, EPA has been stealthily working to electrify even the most sacred Midwest biofuel policy, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

In June, EPA will need to finalize its RFS “set” proposal establishing how much renewable fuel the United States will need to consume as a percentage of gasoline and diesel over the next two years. We’ll also find out next month whether EPA is going to move forward with inserting a massive electric vehicle provision into the RFS that essentially will be a cash influx straight to electric vehicle manufacturers like Ford, GM, and Tesla.

As a reminder, the RFS was first passed by Congress in 2005 to increase American energy independence and promote home-grown biofuels by requiring refiners to blend ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels into their petroleum products. To comply with the law, oil refiners must acquire and submit Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) to EPA every year, where each RIN corresponds with actual biofuel gallons.

Kent Kaiser serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Domestic Policy Caucus. 

Washington, Lincoln, and the 2023 Farm Bill

In the United States, the idea that government has a role to play in support of production agriculture dates to the Nation’s infancy.  In his 1796 Annual message to Congress, President George Washington stated, “It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare agriculture is of primary importance…Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse; and to what object can it be dedicated with greater propriety?”

Daniel Webster, best known as a Senator from Massachusetts from 1827–1841 and 1845–1850, argued “Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man.  When tillage begins, other arts follow.  The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization.”

On May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to create the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over the next two months – amid the Civil War – he signed additional legislation that expanded and transformed American farming, including the Homestead Act, and the establishment of the Land Grant agricultural university system.  In 1889, the USDA was elevated to cabinet status.

Since the early days of the American Colonies and the founding of the Republic, agriculture policy initiatives and farm bills have been a staple of domestic and foreign policy.  Agree, or disagree, these bedrock principles which have tended to reflect the fundamental goals of farm policy; providing a safe and abundant food supply, retention of a competitive marketplace, and achieving both objectives at reasonable prices.

Between 1936 and 1947 there were no fewer than ten pieces of major farm legislation or Executive Orders dealing with agriculture.  In addition, at least 100 pieces of legislation between 1948 and 2015 were signed into law. 

Although each of these pieces of legislation may have been targeted to a specific policy initiative, what each has demonstrated is a commitment by the federal government and American taxpayer to ensure a safe and reliable food supply for the American consumer and the world at large.

Which brings us to the 2023 Farm Bill and what the next farm bill might look like.  Coalitions are being formed, policies are being floated and strategic planning by stakeholders of all stripes is well underway.

There will again be a broad range of issues under consideration, including (but not limited to); commodity support programs, payment limits, biotechnology, conservation compliance, utilization of risk-management tools, federal dairy policy, agro-terrorism, food safety, and nutrition programs.

In addition, policymakers will debate issues regarding business development and retention, transportation infrastructure, technology (including telecommunications), availability of credit, education, housing, and health care as they develop agriculture policy and craft the farm bill. 

The debate surrounding the last few Federal farm bills has made it clear that pressures for additional support for traditional programs contained within the agriculture budget be counterbalanced by efforts to curb spending in the face of ongoing budget deficits.  The inevitable competition between spending priorities will play out against the backdrop of the national debt, unfunded liabilities in excess of $200 trillion and a growing debate regarding decoupling of the commodity and nutrition titles.

The agriculture policy playing field is extremely complex and none of the above will be considered in a vacuum.  There have been varied and conflicting ideals throughout the Nation’s history which have always surfaced during agriculture and farm bill debates.  Often these issues end up being played out in the political arena in equal (or greater) proportions to the activity which surrounds the substantive discourse.

Members of Congress, the Administration, and stakeholders will again engage in a delicate balancing act as they explore policies that will not only allow American agriculture to remain competitive, but also those which will garner enough votes to ensure passage of the next comprehensive farm bill before the current one expires.

Dave Ladd, President of RDL & Associates, is a frequent guest commentator regarding public policy and the political environment.  His company, RDL & Associates, assists clients in achieving their legislative and policy objectives via strategic communications, message development and interaction with elected officials.

The Fundamental Role of Urban and Rural Coalitions in Agriculture Policy

The role played by modern agriculture in the economy, the shifting demographics of rural America, the decline in rural population, and the advancing age of producers have made the formation of coalitions increasingly critical for agriculture and related stakeholders.  These shifts have changed the way coalitions are developed and maintained, bringing about partnerships that are urban and rural, as well as regionally by commodity.

Understanding farm bills requires highly specialized knowledge about issues ranging from crop insurance and conservation to nutrition and forestry.  Since 1973, one of the key reasons farm bills have passed Congress is due to the broad support created by urban and rural coalitions.  Farm state members of Congress have leveraged votes on issues such as minimum wage or consumer protection – viewed to be critical to urban constituencies – in return for support of agriculture legislation.  To make farm bills more palatable to a broader constituency, domestic food programs such as food stamps and food aid have become an integral part of the agriculture budget. 

However, the strength of this coalition may be threatened by the desire to reduce federal outlays.  Will members of Congress and stakeholders who advocate for domestic food programs be willing to accept reductions to these outlays that are in proportion to those under consideration for program commodities?

Coalitions are also regional and oriented toward specific commodities.  Southern members of Congress who represent cotton, rice, peanuts, and tobacco will often leverage votes for their commodities of interest with Midwestern and Northern members who represent corn, wheat, and soybeans.  Since dairy and sugar come from a broader base (e.g. sugar beets in Minnesota/North Dakota and sugarcane in Louisiana), the regional coalitions that are formed regarding these commodities are wider due to regional diversification.  However, regional, and commodity-based coalitions will also see stress during consideration of the 2012 farm bill. 

Although the makeup of Congress is increasingly urban in nature, agriculture continues to have several options politically.  Because members in the House of Representatives must seek re-election every two years, those who represent rural districts cannot afford to stray too far from their constituency.  In the United States Senate (a chamber that functions by unanimous consent), every senator represents agriculture and rural interests, regardless of the size of the state or the types of commodities produced. 

In addition, the rules and precedents of the United States Senate afford the minority the right to protect and advance commodity provisions and funding for agriculture programs that otherwise might not achieve broad majority support.  Finally, the Electoral College strengthens the hand of agriculture and rural communities.  Federal farm bills are large, complex, and expensive and every title within the farm bill speaks to a wide-range of interest groups with diverse agendas.

The Plains states, where farm incomes and land values are most affected by program commodity payment mechanisms, will remain at the core of electoral politics for members of Congress – as well as the candidates for President in 2024.

Copyright © 2023 RDL & Associates, LLC.  All rights reserved.

Howling For Wolves Unveils Bonus Payment Program

Howling For Wolves (HFW), a Minnesota-based non-profit wolf advocacy organization, has launched the “Wolf Forgiveness Bonus Program”. Minnesota livestock producers who suffer a suspected predator loss, within Minnesota’s current wolf range, and choose not to engage a trapper will be eligible for a direct payment that is in addition to any government indemnity payment. Predator losses within wolf range, as well as atypical cases outside the defined wolf range, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The “Wolf Forgiveness Bonus Program” is an opportunity for Howling For Wolves and livestock producers to find common ground. Eligible producers will contact Howling For Wolves directly to initiate the process for payment of $600 per calf and $750 per adult.

Basic information such as the age of the lost livestock, a photo, and the last time the animal was seen. All inquiries and information gathered will remain confidential.

Eligible producers interested in the program can contact Howling For Wolves at (612) 424-3613 or via e-mail at bonusprogram@howlingforwolves.org.

Why You Should Engage the Services of RDL & Associates

Straight and to-the-point, RDL & Associates can help you navigate the uncertain public policy and political landscapes. With decades of experience in farm bill politics and related policy development, RDL & Associates has the expertise and relationships to advance your agenda.

Due to our strategic partnerships in Washington, D.C. and numerous state capitols, we are uniquely qualified to develop a strategy from the “ground up” that will ensure your issues are heard.

For those who are curious how public policy is made and what the political trade winds might bring, we also have you covered!

Our team is available to speak to your company or organization to provide updates regarding the policy and political landscape. Contact us when planning your next event and we’ll deliver the “inside scoop”.

Give us a call at (651) 247-5458 or drop us a note at RDLassociatesGA@gmail.com to discuss how we can assist your organization in achieving success.