By Ramie Parsons
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
January 13, 2026
Fast facts:
- Webinar features USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden
USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden will kick off the 2026 webinar series with his webinar on Jan. 21, 2026, at noon ET/11:00 a.m. CT.
- Discussion will cover agricultural trade, financial assistance, and USDA policy priorities
- Free registration available online
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) will host an upcoming free webinar, “A Conversation with USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden: Update on Ag Trade, Financial Assistance, USDA Reorganization & Related Issues,” on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central.
The webinar will feature The Honorable Judge Stephen A. Vaden, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. Deputy Secretary Vaden will provide updates on the current landscape of U.S. agricultural trade, including developments in international market access and trade agreements, as well as USDA financial assistance programs, reorganization efforts, regulatory and litigation priorities, and other related issues affecting producers, lenders, and stakeholders across the agricultural sector.
“As global markets, trade policy, and regulatory priorities continue to shift, it is critical for producers and stakeholders to understand how USDA’s policies are evolving,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “I am happy to engage with the National Agricultural Law Center to discuss these timely topics.”
Drawing on his unique background as an attorney, former USDA General Counsel, federal judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade, and current USDA Deputy Secretary, Vaden will discuss USDA’s trade strategy, policy initiatives, and the agricultural law and policy issues most likely to impact agriculture in 2026 and beyond.
“Deputy Secretary Vaden brings an unmatched perspective from his service as a federal judge and USDA General Counsel,” said Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “This webinar offers a timely opportunity for the agricultural community to hear directly from USDA leadership about the policies and priorities that will impact agriculture in 2026 and beyond.”
Deputy Secretary Vaden is a native of Union City, Tennessee, and brings extensive experience in agricultural policy, law, and rural development to his leadership role at USDA, where he works alongside Secretary Brooke L. Rollins to help guide Department operations and implement policies supporting the nation’s food and farm systems. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Vaden previously served for five years as a judge on the U.S. Court of International Trade and for nearly four years as USDA’s General Counsel, overseeing more than 250 legal professionals and legal matters for a department of more than 100,000 employees with a budget approaching $150 billion.
During his tenure at USDA, Vaden led significant regulatory reform initiatives, helped implement the 2018 Farm Bill, oversaw the relocation and reorganization of key agencies, and contributed to the development of regulations related to hemp production and bioengineered food disclosure. He also served on the Board of the Commodity Credit Corporation, supporting programs designed to assist producers affected by foreign trade barriers. Under his leadership, USDA prevailed in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Before entering public service, Vaden practiced law at Jones Day and Patton Boggs as an appellate litigator and political law attorney. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Yale Law School.
Additional information about the webinar, including registration details, is available on the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here. A full archive of past webinars is available online at https://nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars. For more information about the National Agricultural Law Center and its programs, visit https://nationalaglawcenter.org. The Center is also active on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn as @nataglaw.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. The NASDA Foundation’s mission is to enhance American food and agricultural communities through education, outreach and research. The NASDA Foundation works with states to nourish people and communities while serving as the stewards of the environment and public trust. To learn more about the NASDA Foundation, please visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation/.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land-grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact:
National Agricultural Law Center
nataglaw@uark.edu