Agri-Pulse Open Mic Interview: Recent Episodes
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This week’s guest on Open Mic is Brett Begemann, Chief Operating Officer at Bayer Crop Science. Where do U.S. farmers stand in the face of increased global competition in the world? How is consumer perception affecting the development of agriculture innovation? What role does technology play in farmer sustainability goals? In this interview, Begemann addresses these and other difficult issues the industry faces and offers a glimpse of tomorrow’s agriculture systems.
This week's Open Mic guest is Ambassador Kip Tom, the leader of the U.S. efforts at the United Nations Food and Agriculture agencies in Rome. The Indiana farmer has a keen eye on the use of innovation to improve the conditions of smallholder farmers around the world, but is concerned about opposition to new technologies in food and agriculture. Tom says American producers should be invested in the work of the FAO and explains what he sees as the biggest challenges facing FAO and the global effort to fight hunger.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tim Palmer, president of the National Association of Conservation Districts. With a continued emphasis on climate change and sustainability in Washington, the work of conservation stewards nationwide is coming into clear view. The Iowa farmer says conservation practices help to mitigate national disasters like floods and wildfires. Palmer welcomes new initiatives by farm groups and USDA to reduce farming’s environmental impact while increasing productivity. Conservation programs survived debate in the 2018 farm bill, but Palmer says program funds should be maintained and staff restored to local conservation offices.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union. Earlier this year the North Dakota native announced he’ll not seek re-election. Johnson and NFU support policy to keep more farmers on the land and remain concerned about the economic health of rural America. Johnson offers his thoughts on agriculture’s place at the table on climate policy, his frustration with the EPA’s administration of the renewable fuels standard and challenges developing the next farm bill.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Incorporated. Headlines from the dairy industry would suggest a sector under siege with a loss of fluid milk processors and dairy farmers. Gallagher says there are positives to discuss in consumer demand, but the industry needs a paradigm shift to meet a health-conscious consumer’s changing lifestyle. He outlines the group’s 2030 plan, speaks to the challenge the checkoff program faces from animal rights activists and more.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Heath Tarbert, chairman and chief executive of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC is perhaps the least known but most significant agency in Washington, regulating price discovery of most of the products consumers use every day. From electronic currencies to farm commodities and crude oil, the agency serves as an overseer of the derivatives market through various domestic commodity exchanges and collaborates with other agencies around the world. The agency has just released a position limits proposal to guard against excessive speculation in commodity trading that has been met with resistance in Washington. Tarbert says the CFTC is investing in advanced technology to monitor electronic trade and protect true price discovery.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. As an appropriator, Moran has a unique look at the government funding conversation and offers his insights as to what should be expected from the Appropriations committees this year. Moran also offers his insights on how he expects election-year politics to impact Capitol Hill. The former leader of the National Republican Senatorial Committee discusses what he thinks rural America wants to hear from political candidates and talks about the Senate race in his home state.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. Dykes says trade is a critical issue for the dairy sector and discusses export markets abroad. Here at home, he says the industry must adapt to the desires of the consumer, both in the products IDFA members produce and how the message surrounding them is communicated.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. After serving for 15 years on the front lines for the beef industry in Washington, Woodall assumed the reins of the association last year. Consumer demand for beef has helped sustain cattle prices, but the industry is looking forward to an increase in export demand through new trade agreements. The Texas native says NCBA members will be more aggressive in defending themselves in the public eye about the positive attributes to the beef industry and are prepared for some long battles over tough legislative and regulatory issues.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Scott VanderWal, vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The South Dakota crop and livestock farmer is familiar with the challenges of 2019 and equally hopeful that the plight of agriculture will see a brighter horizon in the new year. VanderWal believes agriculture issues will play a role in the 2020 race for the White House, providing an opportunity for the industry to tout important issues. He hopes a USMCA vote can come quickly in the U.S. Senate and says demand erosion from the EPA’s RFS implementation has caused some heartburn for farmers and the renewable fuel industry. He also highlights the organization’s 101st Convention and Trade Show later this month in Austin, Texas.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is UC Davis Professor Dr. Frank Mitloehner, an air quality extension specialist. The Council for Agriculture Science and Technology named Dr. Mitloehner the 2019 winner of the Borlaug Communications Award for his efforts in sharing the factual influence of animals and agriculture on climate change. In this podcast, Mitloehner offers examples of how government incentives and research can help farmers achieve sustainable climate goals and reduce greenhouse gases while maintaining food production. He calls for more serious thinking about “sustainable intensification” and how to do more with less.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. The Nebraska Republican doesn’t believe President Trump was afforded due process in the House impeachment trial and offers her views on potential Senate action. Fischer is anxious to see USMCA approved and hopes for tangible progress in trade negotiations with China. Fischer doesn’t believe the EPA’s reallocation plan lives up to a White House promise and has offered legislation to address accuracy in beef labeling.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren. The California Democrat worked with some GOP members and the ag industry to see the Farm Worker Modernization act approved last week in the House. The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, but has the backing of hundreds of farm groups across the country. On trade, Lofgren supports the USMCA as amended but isn’t sure the phase one pact announced with China has much to offer her district.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Hebrink, President and CEO of Compeer Financial. Farmers have spent much of 2019 hoping for better markets, trade agreements and certainly weather. Hebrink says the current farm economy may show similarities to the 1980s, but the financial state of the industry as a whole is much different. Hebrink says government risk management tools and trade assistance have been a lifeline for many operations, but the industry desperately needs open markets and better prices into the new crop year.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Ted Yoho. The Florida 3rd district representative appreciates the intent of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act approved by the House Judiciary Committee, but shares flaws he believes will prevent the language from becoming law. Yoho says President Trump’s USMCA isn’t in the best interest of his state but stands with him to hold China accountable for unfair trade practices. He also discusses concerns about antibiotics and Florida’s orange producers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Mike Rounds. The former South Dakota governor is well aware of the challenges 2019 has presented growers in his state including too much rain, lost markets, and ethanol demand destruction from the EPA’s implementation of the RFS. Rounds offers praise for the farm bill’s risk management tools and trade assistance from the White House and shares concern for a lack of conclusion to the USMCA trade deal. Rounds offers insight into his legislation on meat labeling laws and other challenges coming within the food industry.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, D-Va. Serving in her freshman year in Washington, Spanberger has become a strong leader on voluntary farm conservation practices and the need for rural broadband. The Virginia representative says USMCA will benefit farms and businesses in the region she serves and offers her thoughts on the timing and consideration of the accord. Formerly serving in the Central Intelligence Agency, Spanberger sees the national security issues at stake in global trade negotiations and is leading the charge in developing a national 5G strategy.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Sen. Jon Tester. In this interview, the Montana Democrat shares his view of the ag economy and provides insight into legislation to assist the needs of producers facing emotional stress. He shares his view of the pending USMCA trade agreement, trade relations with China, the budget effort and the need for additional revenue toward rural health care and broadband.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Donnell Rehagen CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. For months, the Trump administration has attempted to bring resolution to the controversy surrounding waivers to the Renewable Fuels Standard. Rehagen says Small Refinery Exemptions granted by the Environmental Protection Agency have wreaked havoc on biodiesel refineries and the agency’s recently announced reallocation plan will only make matters worse.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers. After nearly 20-years of service to farmers in New Mexico, Colorado, California and Arizona, Nassif is retiring in February 2020. In this interview, Nassif speaks to the need for meaningful immigration reform and the hope that Congress will address the issue yet this year. The Western Growers have made great strides in consumer outreach and implemented meaningful reform in product safety, traceability and sustainability. Nassif remains hopeful that difficult trade negotiations will yield expanded global market access for American farmers and calls for quick action to approve the USMCA.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Congressman Rodney Davis. The fourth term Republican reports tariffs and renewable fuel are the top two concerns among his constituents in the thirteenth district. Davis supports President Trump’s efforts to open markets and level the playing field for U.S. farmers and ranchers, but hopes for a quick conclusion in the trade war. Davis is outspoken in his call to bring the USMCA trade agreement to the House floor and says his proposed legislation on implementing the Renewable Fuels Standard and granting small refinery exemptions will work hand in hand with recent objectives announced by the White House.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Kevin Ross, president of the National Corn Growers Association. In a season of challenges from weather, global market access, and low prices, Ross says there is a certain anxiety being felt by corn farmers nationwide. Ross says NCGA is encouraged by the Trump administration’s commitment to a new set of rules to administer the Renewable Fuels Standard that guarantees minimum blending targets will be met. Ross says corn growers desperately want to see USMCA approved, a Japanese trade deal signed and an end to the trade war with China.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Nathan Kauffman, vice president and Omaha branch executive with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. While the farm economy continues to struggle in a multi-year downturn, the overall balance sheet remains strong. Land values remain high and interest rates are low, which has allowed farmers options to restructure debt. Kauffman says Market Facilitation Program payments helped farm balance sheets last year, but are only a short term fix to an enduringly challenged financial outlook.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Mike Conaway. The Texas 11th District Representative says the nation’s farmers and ranchers are enduring a long run of tight financial conditions. He says the 2018 farm bill offers the best policy Washington could afford to help producers weather difficult times and fully supports the Trump Administration’s use of CCC funds to provide financial support for farmers due to lost market access. Conaway says congress needs to approve USMCA and says it is the gold standard for future trade agreements.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is the President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. While dairy policy improvements in the 2018 farm bill have helped the financial plight of many milk producers, Vilsack says it’s the global trade front that presents the best opportunity for improvement to the bottom line. Vilsack hopes for a positive conclusion to a trade deal with Japan and says the Chinese market holds tremendous opportunity for U.S. dairy. Vilsack highlights global paradigms that could lead to greater demand for U.S. dairy products from both health conscious consumers and for feed for growing livestock herds.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Missouri 5th district Representative Emanuel Cleaver. As a former Mayor of Kansas City and now serving his 7th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Cleaver is well versed in the rural and agriculture needs in his district. As a Democratic leader, Cleaver supports the need for the USMCA trade agreement but agrees with Speaker Pelosi that labor assurances must be met. Cleaver agrees a tough stance on China’s trade practices was long overdue, but has differences with the White House tariff approach. Cleaver shares thoughts on renewable fuels and calls for a collective approach in addressing rural broadband needs in the country.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Glen Smith, Board Chair and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration. The watchful eye of the Farm Credit Administration closely monitors the balance sheet of the Farm Credit System and its service to the nation’s farms and ranches. Iowa farmer turned FCA CEO, Smith says stable land values have provided equity farmers needed to restructure debt and maintain working capital. Smith says some of the states with the most financial concern lie in their service area of the Midwest. Farmers were able to maintain income despite lower prices last year because of larger crop production, but says that may not be the case this year. Smith says natural disasters have been extremely challenging for some operations with losses far exceeding areas covered by crop insurance and other risk management tools.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Illinois 17th District Representative Cheri Bustos. With strong family ties to agriculture, the Illinois Democrat serves as a member of both the House Agriculture and Appropriations Committees. In this interview, Bustos shares concerns about the trade war with China and its “generational effects” on farmers in her district and across the country. Bustos says the Trump EPA’s administration of the RFS is deplorable and an “abomination of how it was set up”. Bustos recently offered her “Rural Green Partnership” to the House Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The plan includes agriculture as a valuable tool in the battle against climate change.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Representative Collin Peterson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. The Minnesota Democrat believes agriculture is headed for some “serious tough sledding” and is concerned about whether the 2018 farm safety net will be adequate to protect the industry. He worries that market facilitation payments may undermine future needs for additional price supports. Peterson wants answers from the Environmental Protection Agency about the small refinery waivers that are negatively impacting the ethanol industry and farmers and expresses skepticism about farm support for legislation to address climate change.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas. The 5th generation farmer is fully aware of the difficult economic plight of the nation's agriculture producers. In this interview, he discusses the challenges of unfair trade and the need to support efforts from the White House to level the global trading platform. Lucas discusses the upcoming budget debate and the need for additional disaster assistance and money to keep the nation’s infrastructure system functional and to keep U.S. crops competitive in the global trade arena.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Lisa Safarian, Commercial Operations head for Crop Science, Bayer North America. In the midst of integrating two global agriculture businesses, Bayer is facing headwinds from litigation of existing products like Roundup, as well as one of the most challenging growing seasons in recent U.S. history. In this interview, Safarian talks about the company goal of providing new technology for farmers while at the same time, embracing a fresh commitment toward global sustainability.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Matthew Lohr, Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The discussion over agriculture sustainability is leading to a renewed interest and support for NRCS and many programs farmers and ranchers utilize to preserve natural resources. The Virginia poultry farmer comments on the relationship between EPA and USDA and speaks to the future of voluntary participation in conservation programs. Natural disasters have devastated farms and ranches across the country and Lohr comments on how NRCS is cooperating with other government agencies to help farmers recover from their tremendous losses.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Syngenta CEO Erik Fyrwald. With a global goal of sustainable productivity, Syngenta continues to invest in innovation for global agriculture. In this interview, Fyrwald addresses the need for advances in technology to produce more food while protecting the environment and the need for litigation reform. Fyrwald says modern, sustainable agriculture needs a brand to communicate positive steps farmers and industry are taking to meet the needs of a growing planet.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is David Perry, CEO of Indigo Ag. CNBC put Indigo at the top of their “2019 Disruptor List”. Perry’s company has a global presence and has raised $650 million dollars in their effort to grow farm productivity and reduce carbon emissions through patented innovation in microbial science. Raised on a crop farm in Arkansas, Perry believes his company’s production paradigm can cut chemical fertilizer use in half and reduce pesticide use by 90 percent. Indigo’s “Terraton Initiative” would put agriculture in the lead to resolve global climate change issues.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Georgia 2nd District Representative Sanford Bishop. As Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriations Subcommittee chair, Bishop is pleased with the full committee’s work on the FY20 spending bills. Bishop admits the lack of progress in the Senate could delay timely approval of funds for the coming fiscal year and says it is highly likely that legislators will need to approve additional disaster funds for regions still attempting to recover from natural disasters.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst. She has seen firsthand the devastating impact of severe flooding in her region and shares concern with other farmers about the wet season that has forced late planting across the Midwest. In this interview, Ernst discusses the need for additional disaster assistance, reform of farm bankruptcy rules, and funding of a second round of MFP funds for farmers and ranchers. Ernst remains in close contact with President Trump on trade policy and praises the administration’s efforts to allow for year-round sales of E-15 blended gasoline.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. John Newton, Chief Economist of the American Farm Bureau Federation. In this interview, Newton offers insight on how weather, trade conflicts, and surplus commodities have wreaked havoc on the nation’s farm and ranch community. Newton says farmers need details of the disaster assistance and market facilitation programs as well as amendments to bankruptcy laws. Newton outlines the challenges of an antiquated dairy program and calls for additional funds for ag research.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. Farmers and the renewable fuels industry were pleased to see the Trump administration fulfill its promise to amend regulation and allow for year-round sales of E-15 blended fuels. In this interview, Skor comments on EPA's small refinery waivers, desire for reallocation and pending legislation for Congressional oversight. Skor is anxious for a conclusion to trade conflicts and shares hope for export growth opportunities.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Boozman. In this interview, the Arkansas Republican discusses the need for policy to address climate change that includes a favorable role for agriculture, the goals for infrastructure and rural development, trade and the upcoming debate on child nutrition.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin. The senior senator from Illinois returned to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee for the 116th Congress. Durbin is pleased with the bipartisan effort on the farm bill, but fears the downturn in the ag economy may be more than the legislation’s safety net can bear. Senator Durbin shares his view of small refinery waivers granted by EPA and supports the sustainable work farmers are voluntarily playing in efforts to combat climate change. Durbin shares thoughts on the long road to negotiate better trade relations with China and the need for infrastructure legislation.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. While political rhetoric and bantering over trade have dominated news headlines recently, there is much work to be done in Washington on Capitol Hill. McConnell acknowledges the differences of opinion on a number of key issues in Washington, but believes the two sides can compromise this week to finally approve disaster legislation.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Senator Blanche Lincoln, Founder of the Lincoln Policy Group in Washington. After a 16 year career representing constituents in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Lincoln is lending her voice to the Farmers for Free Trade Coalition in support of the USMCA trade deal and concern over the country’s protectionist attitude with global trading partners. Lincoln shares the concerns of farmers and the supporting industry over the Trump administration’s use of tariffs and the need to see congressional approval of the USMCA trade agreement as well as a resolution to the trade war with China.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson. Just back from leading a bipartisan delegation of Congressional leaders to Central and South America, the Minnesota 7th District Representative reports his observations of crop production, foreign investment and meetings with new elected leaders. Here at home, Peterson shares his frustration with approving disaster legislation, implementing dairy policy and the challenge of funding policy to support farmers and repair the country’s failing infrastructure.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tina May, Senior Director of Sustainability at Land O’Lakes. Sustainability has become a priority for Land O’ Lakes Cooperative and is also being embraced by more consumers. In this interview May outlines the cooperative’s efforts to meet growing consumer demand for sustainable farming practices while helping farmers incorporate new innovation, technology and industry partnerships to maintain profitability in their operations. She also discusses policy implications in states like California and nationally.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The 900 member cooperatives of the NRECA have a keen eye on potential infrastructure legislation that may come before the 116th Congress. After serving seven terms in the House of Representatives, Matheson hopes a good portion of those funds will be directed to rural zip codes and pointed toward more than roads and bridges. Matheson speaks to a Trump administration proposal to sell some PMA assets, a need for investment in rural broadband and how potential climate change legislation could affect system reliability and affordability of electric service to rural America.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Following an open forum with farmers in Georgetown, Kentucky last week, Administrator Wheeler discussed the growing issue of food waste, an update on allowing E-15 sales all year, small refinery waivers to the Renewable Fuel Standard, the next steps in approving new Waters of the U.S. regulations, glyphosate safety and thoughts on legislative and regulatory responses to address climate change.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is David Hollinrake, president of Syngenta Seeds, LLC, and North American Regional Director. In this interview Hollinrake discusses the consolidation trend of both farmers and global agriculture and the technological advances which will enable farmers to sustainably produce more crops with fewer inputs. A number of studies suggest an even smaller universe of farmers will produce an even greater percentage of total food output. The paradigm shift suggests world class competition among companies to bring innovation to a shrinking customer base. Hollinrake identifies both the opportunities and challenges for companies and the customers they serve.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is California 16th District Representative Jim Costa. As Chair of the House Ag Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, Costa is in the thick of key debates before the 116th Congress on labor, trade, livestock and nutrition assistance and plans an upcoming hearing on dairy policy. Costa is convinced the earth’s climate is changing but doesn’t believe the “aspirational” Green New Deal is the right strategy to guide the nation in reducing its overall carbon footprint.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Ted McKinney. With hundreds of thousands of travel miles already logged, the former director of Indiana agriculture knows there are thousands more to go to find successful conclusions to trade agreements for U.S. farmers and ranchers. McKinney is patiently optimistic for a successful conclusion to the trade war with China and ready to begin bi-lateral talks with Japan. McKinney offers insight to ratification of the USMCA, the urgency of ending U.S. metals tariffs, trade with Europe and the overall objective of diversifying the nation’s global customer base.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Todd Van Hoose, President and CEO of the Farm Credit Council. Despite the USDA’s recent forecast of improved farm income for 2019, Van Hoose says many crop and livestock farmers are having a difficult time projecting a profit for the season ahead. Van Hoose says the key to profitability lies in the outcome of trade negotiations by the Trump administration. Van Hoose comments on the 116th Congress and hopes for progress on infrastructure and agriculture labor.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jennifer Houston, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Similar to other commodity organizations, Houston says cattlemen have a lot at stake in global trade negotiations including Japan, China and other Asian countries. At home, the Tennessee native says there’s much work to build relationships with new members of the 116th Congress and connecting with the demands of a younger generations of beef consumers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Erin Fitzgerald, CEO of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. In her short tenure at the head of this group, Fitzgerald notes a tremendous disparity between what’s being said about food production and its real environmental impact. Fitzgerald responds to some familiar attacks on food production and redirects attention to areas where all consumers can play a role in environmental stewardship. The USFRA has a new lead of its Science Advisory Council and has announced new initiatives including the Science to Sense Marketing Program and the Honor the Harvest Forum coming later this year.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Canadian Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay. Agri-Pulse’s Spencer Chase spoke with the distinguished agriculture leader at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. In this interview, MacAulay shares optimism that his country’s farmers can expand income by satisfying increased global demand for food. MacAulay says Canada wants free and fair trade with no tariffs and no barriers. MacAulay speaks to the USMCA’s implications on their dairy industry, their displeasure with U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and the need for governments to accept sound science and provide farmers the tools they need to boost production and maintain profitability.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. In this week’s interview LaVigne discusses the two biggest issues facing his industry: trade and acceptance of new technology. LaVigne applauds the Trump administration for taking on longstanding obstacles to fair trade and a new information partnership with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Innovature is a new platform designed to encourage conversations around innovation in food and agriculture. LaVigne says the initial focus is on gene editing which he says can help preserve the planet, improve consumer health, and increase food production.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. The 2018 rewrite of the nation’s farm bill provides a better safety net for fiber crop producers, but Adams says the cotton industry needs less retaliation and more market access to global trade partners. In this interview Adams identifies key market opportunities, highlights policy initiatives for the 116th Congress, and the dire need for disaster assistance for growers from last year’s hurricanes.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is US. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Speaking on the sidelines of the American Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans earlier this month, the former state agriculture commissioner spoke in support of the new farm bill and the Trump trade initiatives. Hyde-Smith believes the pain of the current trade war will return better export opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers in seasons to come. Hyde-Smith stands behind President Trump’s efforts to secure the U.S. border with Mexico and introduced legislation last week to use a portion of Chinese tariff revenues to fund border security.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. The Appropriations Committee member warned last year that approving continuing resolutions to fund the government would only make addressing the nation’s fiscal needs more difficult. In this interview, Senator Moran discusses the implications of the government shutdown, the consequences of failed trade negotiations, and the need for compromise on immigration reform and border security. In addition, he comments on the new farm bill, concerns about farmer suicides and the importance of healthy rural communities.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Massachusetts 2nd District Representative Jim McGovern. As Chair of the Rules Committee, McGovern has vowed to use legal action to prevent the Trump administration from implementing regulations to limit food aid to hungry Americans. In this interview, McGovern expands on his goal to restore integrity to the rules committee vowing not to “rig the process” by denying valid policy debate and promising a restoration of the committee process. McGovern supports the farm bill’s attention to food waste but says government can do more to help the hungry.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is American Soybean Association CEO Ryan Findlay. Soybean farmers remain caught in a global trade war between the Trump administration and China. Despite a new farm bill and Market Facilitation Payments, Findlay says soybean farmers face a challenging outlook this year as well as the threat of future lost market share to global competitors in the years ahead. In this interview, Findlay outlines the primary challenges facing the soy industry including support for biodiesel, regulatory reform and global trade.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts. The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law by President Trump last week in the White House. Kansas U.S. Senator Pat Roberts and leaders of the conference committee crafted a bill that received overwhelming support on both sides of the Capitol. Senator Roberts says the evolutionary bill was diversified and the best language that leaders could offer. In this interview Roberts addresses some of the key provisions of the bill and speaks to the effort of working with the USDA to implement the new legislation. Roberts is hopeful 2018 will bring legislative success to other key issues for the nation.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. Since assuming the lead of the group in October, Cooper says the producer group is focused on increasing demand by breaking down legislative and regulatory barriers preventing real growth in the industry. Cooper comments on the financial hardship caused by the Trump EPA’s small refinery waivers to the RFS and shares thoughts on a legislative proposal to phase out the RFS in favor of a shift to higher octane standards in the nation’s fuel supply. Cooper says year round availability of E-15 blends will be most welcomed by producers, retailers and consumers across the country.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union. As Washington appears closer to approving new farm policy, Johnson fears the policy won’t be enough to protect farmers in the current market environment. He offers a strong opinion on the Trump administration’s trade policy with China and offers guarded support for the newly signed USMCA. For 2019, Johnson sees an opportunity for better legislation from both sides of the political aisle.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Carrie Calvert, Managing Director of Government Relations for Feeding America. Despite the country’s surplus of food production, more than 12 percent of the nation’s population is food insecure. In this interview, Calvert weighs in on the nation’s nutrition assistance debate, the need for a farm bill, and Feeding America’s effort to deal with food waste. Calvert reports on how surplus food purchases under the Trump trade assistance program is helping provide much needed help to food banks across the nation.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Hebrink, President and CEO of Compeer Financial. The lack of certainty from a new farm bill and weak commodity prices due to lost export markets and robust supplies have left farmers and lenders with a grim outlook for 2019. In this interview, Hebrink discusses the challenge of the unknown and the need for legislators and the White House to take action on farm policy, trade and regulations to help rural America prepare for the year ahead.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture Ted McKinney. While the Trump administration’s trade tactics have drawn both the praise and ire of commodity groups, McKinney’s attention to opening new markets and diversifying agriculture’s portfolio has been welcome news. In this interview the Hoosier native reports on his trade missions to Southern Africa and Central America as well as his hopes on bi-lateral negotiations with Japan and the European Union. McKinney also offers his thoughts on upcoming talks between the U.S. and China.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Polly Ruhland, CEO of the United Soybean Board. In this interview, Ruhland speaks to the challenges facing the soybean industry and the structural changes the farmer led group have made to refine their focus on both short and long term goals. Ruhland says collaborative efforts with commodity and industry partners as well as state organizations is helping grow demand in spite of present obstacles in global trade.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Paul Drazek, Managing Partner of DTB Associates. The Trump administration’s trade agenda has yielded positive results recently with new agreements with Korea, Canada and Mexico. However tariffs on steel and aluminum imports remain in place and continue to bring retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural commodities. Drazek questions the results of those trade deals and is skeptical of future negotiations with targeted nations by the White House. Drazek fears the ongoing trade war with China could linger.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Margaret Zeigler, Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative. The 9th annual GAP Report indicates a disturbing trend for global agriculture. While U.S. agriculture drowns in a surplus of bulk commodities, the global productivity trend falls short of the long range goal of meeting the food, fiber and fuel demands of a growing population. Zeigler says low income countries are especially deficient and would benefit from better trade relations, funding for research as well as public/private partnerships in food production.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Soybean farmers are feeling the brunt of the trade war between the U.S. and China. Sutter shares how the trade war with China may incentivize global competition and at the same time reduce demand for soybeans. In this interview, Sutter outlines the industry’s short and long term strategy to maintain global market share and actually grow global market opportunities for U.S. growers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. While the Michigan Democrat is adamant that the principal four negotiators will reach a compromise on a new farm bill, she also shares that the policy preferences between the House and Senate versions of the language are bigger than a single issue. Still, Stabenow isn’t ready to talk about extending the 2014 law.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Dave Pyburn, Senior Vice President for Science and Technology with the National Pork Board. In this interview Dr. Pyburn reviews the history of African Swine Fever that poses a tremendous threat to the global swine herd, as well as to corn and soybean growers and consumers. Pyburn discusses the spread of the disease in China and outlines measures the U.S. must take to prevent this lethal virus from infecting our domestic pork herd.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jennifer Ozimkiewicz, North American Regional Marketing Manager for Bayer Crop Science. After a near two year journey, Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto came to a conclusion just days before the opening of the 2018 Farm Progress Show. In this interview, Ozimkiewicz discusses how product strengths and the research capacity of both companies may lead to more rapid development and approval of products to boost farm productivity. She also discussed litigation against glyphosate, the need for the continued approval of dicamba herbicide in crop protection and efforts to enhance consumer acceptance of new science in agriculture.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Collin Peterson. The Minnesota Democrat is clearly focused on the Farm Bill Conference Committee and completion of the 2018 Farm Bill by the September 30 deadline. Peterson offers an update on the work to date on the compromise language and outlines some of the biggest challenges House and Senate leaders face in completing the bill. Peterson says time is of the essence and he’s not willing to talk about missing the legislative mark. He also shares his concerns about China and international trade.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Michele Simon, Executive Director for the Plant Based Foods Association. From their launch two years ago, the group has seen tremendous membership growth among companies that provide plant based alternatives to meat, eggs and milk. Nielsen data suggest a 20 percent growth in the industry last year. While traditional meat and dairy groups lobby Washington to crack down on labeling of plant based products, Simon says it’s the companies that should provide labeling solutions not government agencies that often represent other interests.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ken Dallmier, President and COO of Clarkson Grain Company. While the global grain business is dominated by supply, demand and now trade wars, this Illinois-based company functions under a customer-focused mindset. Dallmier says this generation of consumer demand is dominated by a different set of social values leading to questions over the way food is produced and the prices they’re willing to pay. Sustainability, organic and non-GMO are providing farmers an income stream isolated from traditional market forces.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. The Illinois Democrat will serve on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee and discusses the many challenges of resolving differences in the respective proposals including SNAP work requirements, conservation programs and farm support payment limits. Bustos agrees the U.S. should work toward free and fair trade, but disagrees with the Trump administration’s tariff policy. Bustos supports comprehensive immigration reform and is counting on a leadership change in the mid-term elections to bring better policy and a different result.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Congressman Rodney Davis. The Illinois Republican is a co-sponsor of pending immigration reform bill and shares his frustration with approving legislation to allow an adequate agriculture workforce. As a member of the farm bill conference committee, Davis strongly supports policy provisions in the House language and is ready to work with Senate leaders to resolve the two bills. Davis says the nutrition reform debate should be more about investing in job training than possible changes to assistance eligibility. Davis supports President Trump’s effort to bring change to global trade but fears the ill effects of an extended trade war on agriculture and the U.S. economy.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers who discusses his group’s concerns about trade, immigration reform and the Trump Administration. Nassif, a former member of the Reagan administration, says it is time for the U.S. to say “enough is enough” to unfair global trading partners but fears the economic backlash of an extended and exhaustive global trade war. Nassif explains why Western Growers oppose the Goodlatte immigration reform proposal and doesn’t believe supporters will find the votes to address the issue this year- despite the urgent need to address labor issues.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is economist Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge and Exchange Division. With an already depressed farm economy and concerns about trade relationships with global trading partners, Kowalski says the industry has a lot at riding on the success of the Trump administration’s trade policy. CoBank says Canada, Mexico and China consume 30 percent of U.S. agriculture exports and over twice that amount is tied to nations either in trade negotiations or all out trade disputes. Kowalski says the government’s plan to support farm losses from trade could run into billions of dollars and says the situation heightens pressure on Washington to provide a timely farm bill this year.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Congressman Dan Newhouse. Trade and labor are said to be the top two issues facing farmers in his 4th congressional district. In this interview, Newhouse talks about the critical need for fair and open markets as well as the shortage of available workers that’s costing his state’s agriculture industry millions of dollars annually. The former state ag director continues to work toward reform of the nation’s immigration laws and looks forward to another attempt at an ag labor bill later this month.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Sleight, President and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. The Trump trade agenda has provided much anxiety in the nation’s ag industry on escalating tension between major trading partners and the threat of an all out trade war. Tom Sleight offers insight on the significance of the NAFTA renegotiating effort with Canada and Mexico as well as other global trading partners. Sleight says China offers tremendous potential for U.S. feed grain and co-product exports including ethanol, but not without a more stable trade relationship.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Kevin Skunes, President of the National Corn Growers Association. Corn farmers have grave concerns over President Trump’s trade agenda as well as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s actions reducing volume demand for ethanol. In this week’s interview North Dakota’s Kevin Skunes voices farmer concerns over lost corn demand for renewable fuel and the potential loss of export market access. Skunes says corn farmers applaud the Senate Ag Committee’s approval of a new farm bill and look forward to pending full floor debate of new farm laws.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ambassador Allen Johnson, President of Allen F. Johnson and Associates. As Chief Agriculture Negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office during the Bush Administration, Johnson successfully negotiated a dozen agreements on five continents. In this interview, Johnson offers his insight to the strong hand the Trump administration is using to bring about fair trade for U.S. farmers, industry and intellectual property. Johnson says initiating change isn’t easy, but the reward may well be worth the challenge at hand. To read the transcript of this interview click here
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers. The nation’s sorghum producers survived a season of heavy Chinese trade tariffs for their product and now are hopeful trade negotiations can offer additional access to that growing market. In this interview, Lust discusses new global market opportunities for sorghum as well as the exponential demand increase here at home. Lust says they’re keeping a close eye on the EPA and potential changes to the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard as well as development of the 2018 farm bill.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Congressman Ted Yoho. As a member of the Agriculture Committee and the House Freedom Caucus, the Florida Representative offers insight into the failed vote for a new farm bill and key points for debate on immigration reform. Yoho, who was once a food stamp recipient, says there’s much to gain from approving new farm and nutrition policy this year and much to lose if Congress is forced to extend the 2014 law. He supports a new NAFTA agreement and says his farmers have suffered under the previous agreement.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. The renewable fuels industry is encouraged by a White House pledge to sell E-15 year round, but is concerned about the final outcome of the Trump administration’s discussions on the Renewable Fuel Standard. Skor suggests some possible conclusions might immediately lower corn prices and threaten thousands of renewable energy jobs. She is also concerned about hardship waivers granted by the EPA and has doubts about Administrator Pruitt’s commitment to fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to support renewable energy.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Congressman Frank Lucas. The Oklahoma Republican reflects on the multi-year effort of crafting what he defines as the third generation of farm programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. As the House prepares to consider a new language, Lucas says the spotlight remains on preserving risk management tools and potential shifts in social nutrition programs. Lucas supports the Trump trade effort and says tweaks to renewable fuel policy must be handled carefully.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin. The senior Senator of Illinois anticipates upcoming legislative action on a new farm bill as well as consideration of appropriations for the coming fiscal year. Senator Durbin voted for the original NAFTA and is hopeful for a successful conclusion to its renegotiation. Durbin supports the nation’s energy law and believes the White House can resolve concerns with the Renewable Fuel Standard. Like many in the agriculture industry, Durbin is concerned with the Trump Administration’s tariff threats and the risk of lost markets for farmers and ranchers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. A long political agenda in the upper chamber is being further challenged by an extended list of confirmations for appointees for the Trump Administration. Kentucky’s McConnell gives an expected timetable for farm policy consideration and outlines his hemp bill that will be a part of the debate. McConnell shares thoughts on the Trump trade agenda, investment in infrastructure and goals for appropriations this year.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey. After an extended delay from nomination to confirmation, Northey, a fourth generation farmer and three term Secretary of Agriculture for his home state is on the job in Washington guiding the USDA’s efforts for farm production and conservation programs. Northey discusses Secretary Perdue’s reorganized plan for department programming and how the consolidation will impact farm customers and county offices across the country. Northey outlines the department’s efforts to upgrade technology to expand ways farmers can interact with Washington and his goals for better coordination among government agencies.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway. As his committee plans to markup the 2018 farm bill proposal on Wednesday, the Chairman shares thoughts on the politics and the key provisions in the draft proposal including proposed SNAP revisions, conservation programs, and adjustments to Title 1. The Texas Republican also discusses the Trump administration’s trade agenda and trusts USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide protection to potential trade retaliation from global trading partners. Conaway says the nation’s Renewable Fuel Standard is unworkable and needs amendments by both the White House and Congress.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson. A House Ag impasse on nutrition policy has delayed policy markup of the new farm bill. In this interview, Ranking Member Collin Peterson offers insight to the minority pushback on Chairman Conaway’s draft proposal and other challenges a divided committee may bring to farm policy consideration. Peterson is skeptical of President Trump’s trade strategy and has strong words for potential administrative changes to the nation’s renewable fuel policy. Peterson explains his proposal to amend the Conservation Reserve Program and why other ag leaders should be on board.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ray Starling, Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance. With a rich career demonstrating a strong advocacy for agriculture, North Carolina native Starling finds himself in the middle of critical decisions over global trade, renewable fuels, and future farm policy. Starling shares industry concerns over possible Chinese trade retaliation and understands the levity of a pending White House decision on the Renewable Fuel Standard. Starling says the report from the President’s Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity is a road map for the White House goals for rural America.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Roberts acknowledges the “rough patch” farmers and ranchers are in and the need for a timely approval of a bipartisan new farm bill. The Kansas Republican discusses the Trump administration trade agenda and possible government reaction to lost export sales. Roberts is paying close attention to administrative action on the Renewable Fuels Standard and does support efforts to protect the nation’s livestock herd from infectious diseases.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agriculture Economics Department at Purdue University. With heightened debate on food and farm policy surrounding the development of a new farm bill, Dr. Lusk offers challenging insight about the relationship between political persuasion and food, work requirements for SNAP recipients and evolving preferences in meat consumption.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is John Heisdorffer, President of the American Soybean Association. Fresh from last week’s Commodity Classic meeting in Anaheim, John shares priorities for soybean growers in the coming farm bill debate, concerns about the implications of possible trade tariffs on top soybean customers and the need to embrace new technology for today’s farmers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development at USDA. Rural prosperity has been a priority for the Trump administration with Secretary Sonny Perdue leading an Interagency Task Force on the matter. In this interview, Hazlett outlines key findings in the report and the need for public and private agencies to work together to resolve critical quality of life issues in rural America.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay. All eyes are on the next scheduled talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement amid anticipation of a breakthrough in the more challenging agriculture issues. MacAulay tells Agri-Pulse that “trade creates wealth.” He says Canada has no intention of walking away from the talks but will only sign a good agreement. MacAulay says negotiators were successful 23 years ago and he’s hopeful they can do it again.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Alex Moore, Chief Development Officer with the DC Central Kitchen. Hunger and poverty threaten hundreds of thousands of individuals in the DC area daily. Moore, along with the staff and volunteers of this nationally acclaimed nonprofit, feed thousands daily and offer job training and food education for people in need in DC and across the country. Moore says changes to federal food assistance programs would only heap an even greater burden on theirs and other organizations who stand in the gap for those in need. Defining the challenge Moore said, “Poverty’s not the moral failing of people. Poverty is a moral failure of a country that tolerates it.”
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Halverson, CEO of CoBank. As farmers and Ranchers deal with what appears to be another year of low commodity prices, Tom Halverson says there are other challenges that could add to the financial strain on the nation’s ag producers. In this interview, Halverson talks about the need for a new farm bill, open access to global markets and the downside of potentially higher interest rates. Halverson echoes President Trump’s call for infrastructure investment and believes the tax reform legislation is positive for the agriculture industry.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. After a year on the job at USDEC, Vilsack says dairy farmers are counting on folks in Washington to grow global market access and deliver better support programs for the country’s dairy farmers. Vilsack says withdrawing from NAFTA would bring the worst possible outcome for agriculture and the dairy industry. He also discusses the upcoming farm bill and how failure to improve the current Margin Protection Program would bring more hardships on small and medium-sized dairy farmers. The Iowa Democrat offers his support for immigration reform and offers advice for candidates trying to win votes in rural America.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney. After only a few weeks in his new role, McKinney has already traveled thousands of miles on behalf of U.S. farmers and ranchers. In this interview Indiana’s former Director of Agriculture outlines the coordinated efforts of the Trump administration on trade, identifies potential market opportunities and speaks to the need for domestic infrastructure investment. McKinney outlines the current NAFTA negotiations and speaks to trade relations with both Canada and Japan.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Jerry Moran. The Kansas Republican participated in the American Farm Bureau Convention last week in Nashville and provided a pessimistic forecast for Congress to complete a new farm bill in 2018. Immediately, legislators face another spending deadline this week as well as consideration of disaster assistance and immigration issues. Moran supports continued efforts for better trade agreements and says NAFTA is simply too important to the nation for the Trump Administration to threaten a withdrawal. Senator Moran voted for tax reform and outlines areas he expect to see improvement in the nation’s economy.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. The nation's soybean industry faces a number of challenges in maintaining global market share. Production is keeping pace with consumption placing greater demands on the domestic industry to satisfy quality standards, sustainability requirements and price. In this interview Sutter outlines the U.S. agreement with China over FM standards, defines the advantages of industry’s soybean sustainability assurance protocol and highlights the search for new global opportunities for the industry.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Bob Young, President of Agricultural Prospects. With major trade and policy decisions facing agriculture in the new year, Bob sheds light on prospects for an upswing in farm income, the opportunities for expanding global trade and the dismal outlook if current negotiations fail. Now retired after a career including FAPRI, the Senate Agriculture Committee and Chief Economist at the American Farm Bureau, Young offers insight on major policy decisions facing Congress including support level triggers and calls for means tests for program participants.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte. The Virginia Republican announced earlier this year that he will not seek another term. In his time remaining, Goodlatte is intent on amending the nation’s guest worker program. He supports tax reform and sees a need to amend the nation’s nutrition programs. Goodlatte does not support the Renewable Fuels Standard blending mandates and agrees efforts are needed to end or amend the program.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. While countless farm groups and members of the agriculture industry have expressed concern with the Trump Administration’s threats to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Secretary Perdue supports the president and anticipates a successful conclusion to the talks. The former Georgia governor says USDA service to farmers is being affected by key vacancies at the department. Perdue speaks to challenges against the RFS, identifies recent decisions regarding the nation’s school lunch program and previews findings from the Rural Prosperity Task Force.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Nebraska Rep. Adrian Smith. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, the 3rd district representative has been deeply involved in tax reform efforts. With separate tax bills approved in both chambers, Smith is hopeful the tax code revisions will support farmers and small business owners as well as encourage the corporate community to spend more on employees and wages. The GOP Congressman is supportive of trade agreements and cautious of negotiations that might limit agriculture’s access to global markets. Smith has introduced renewable fuels legislation and offers his thoughts on amending the RFS.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President for Ag and Rural Banking Policy with the American Bankers Association. Rural bankers are cautiously optimistic as they face a challenging agriculture economic climate in the year ahead. In this week’s interview Elfmann addresses the impact of higher interest rates on farm loans, identifies priority issues within the new farm bill and outlines unique regulatory hurdles rural bankers must endure to serve farmers, businesses and individual in communities across the country.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway. In this interview, the Texas Republican offers support for the GOP tax plan and identifies agriculture’s gains from the House proposal. Conaway embraces the challenge of the NAFTA renegotiation and offers full support for President Trump’s efforts to get a better deal for both farmers and industry. The chairman outlines ag committee preparation and work toward writing a new farm bill and supports significant change in the nation’s renewable energy policy and RIN’s structure.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. The North Dakota Democrat talks about how weather and other hardships have impacted producers this year and evaluates current farm bill provisions. Heitkamp recently met with Trump Administration officials on trade issues and is keeping a watchful eye on RFS decisions from the EPA. She says her constituents are concerned about both the nation’s complex tax code and growing national debt.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. In this week’s interview the former Deputy Ag Secretary discusses pending legislative issues that could have a dramatic impact on the nation’s farmers and their cooperatives. Conner gives caution to a House tax reform proposal, shares concern about ongoing trade negotiations and offers an ultimatum on the failure of the Congress to address agriculture’s need for guest workers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Andrew Bahrenburgh, National Policy Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition. The nation faces many hurdles in transitioning farms and ranches to a new generation. Identifying land, securing capital, tax reform and training are just a few of the issues potential young farmers face. In this interview, Bahrenburgh discusses young farmer and rancher needs in the new farm bill and one major obstacle that no other generation has faced before.
As hundreds of barges sit stranded along the banks of the Ohio River, it’s no secret that are nation’s ailing locks and dams are in need of an update. This week’s guest on Open Mic is Mike Toohey, President and CEO of the Waterways Council Inc. He describes the struggle of keeping an antiquated system functional and efforts to find adequate funding to replace dilapidated structures which are so critical to the U.S. economy and agriculture’s global competitiveness. Toohey says proposed tax reform and the Trump administration’s proposal to invest in the nation’s infrastructure could help, but aren’t guaranteed.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. With all eyes on the fourth round of NAFTA 2.0 talks in Washington this week, the dairy industry anxiously awaits the opportunity to challenge Canada’s dairy policy. In this interview, Mulhern expresses the dairy industry’s desire for immigration reform and the consequences of congressional delay. After three years of low prices and reduced income, Mulhern says the industry is ready to see dairy policy reform.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association. Fresh off a very successful Washington Conference last week, Stenzel and the leaders of the produce industry are keeping a keen eye on the current round of NAFTA negotiations in Ottawa. Stenzel outlines the group’s policy goals toward the 2018 farm bill including a difficult debate on nutrition restrictions or incentives for the SNAP program. Stenzel outlines the two biggest issues in the farm labor debate and discusses House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s proposed H2-C labor proposal.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos. In this interview the Springfield native expands on her role in the Democratic Party to enhance continuity with rural Midwestern voters. Her 17th district in Illinois includes major industry, agriculture and a strong labor union base making trade a difficult issue. Bustos discusses the health care debate, tax reform, the need for a transportation bill and offers her reaction to farmer responses on what’s needed in a new farm bill.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rebecca Bratter, Executive Director of the U.S. Dry Bean Council. The success of our nation’s dry bean industry hinges on access to global markets. In this interview, Bratter explains the significance of the NAFTA talks and ponders effects of the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the TPP global trade agreement. The 2014 Farm Bill was more attentive to the needs of specialty crop farmers. Bratter shares her industry’s goals for the next round of farm policy development including more dollars for market development and continue funding for global food aid.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Robb Fraley, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Monsanto. On the sidelines of last week’s Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, Fraley discussed the convergence of biological science and data technology in an era defined as “Modern Agriculture”. In this interview Fraley reflects on the evolution of genetic enhancement and the opportunities that will frame the future of farming as well as how gene editing is changing modern medicine and agriculture. Fraley talks openly about the introduction of dicamba resistant crops this year and perspective of complaints that have been reported across the country.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Alan Tracy, immediate past president of U.S. Wheat Associates. In this interview, Tracy describes how quality has replaced politics as the key driver of global market access. Tracy isn’t ready to define the Trump trade bias as isolationist, but shares concern about the administration's global trade agenda. While congressional agriculture committees appear closer to marking up a new farm bill, Tracy says wheat and other agriculture groups are hopeful for increased Title 3 spending.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Paul Drazek, a veteran agricultural trade consultant and partner with DTB Associates. The Trump trade agenda has drawn concern from the agriculture community as the administration’s hard line stance on existing trade deals threatens access to a growing world population and potentially, farm income opportunities. In this interview, Drazek shares thoughts on the Trump team's bi-lateral trade strategy, how to deal with China on trade disputes and the best possible outcome from the NAFTA re-negotiation.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is John Becherer, CEO of the United Soybean Board. After more than 20 years of service to farmer leaders who oversee the nation’s soybean checkoff, Becherer will step down from his post at the end of 2017. In this interview, Becherer highlights two decades of growth as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the soybean industry. As checkoffs face greater scrutiny, Becherer defends the farmer-led programs. Recently recognized as one of the top association executives, Becherer talks about what he’s learned association management.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Todd Van Hoose, President and CEO of the Farm Credit Council. Farmers and ranchers across the country continue to struggle in a down farm economy. In this week’s interview, Van Hoose emphasizes the need for a new farm bill with risk protection including Title One and crop insurance to see producers through this downturn. Van Hoose explains the need for change in the FSA loan program, expanded funding for rural development and an expansion of market access for U.S. commodities around the world.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Hoeven. Severe drought in his home state and across the Northern Plains heightens the need to secure risk management tools to protect farmers and ranchers. As agriculture chair on the Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Hoeven says the budget will be a challenge in writing a new farm bill. The North Dakota Republican says agriculture has a strong message to share on budget savings and a real need for protection given current challenges from revenue and potentially from global trade.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Ron DeHaven, President DeHaven Veterinary Solutions. A vast coalition of producer and allied industry groups are calling on congress to approve funds and establish a vaccine bank to protect the U.S. livestock industry from a potential outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. As a former Administrator of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and former CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. DeHaven outlines the vulnerability of the livestock industry, cites the implications of a single occurrence of the infectious viral disease and outlines how a ready supply vaccine could limit animal mortality and economic loss.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Jon Tester. In this interview the Montana Democrat gives an update on drought conditions that are gripping his home state. Tester says the Trump administration’s comments on trade could easily be interpreted as a shift to protectionism. He fears the U.S. will fall behind by pursuing only bi-lateral trade agreements. Tester favors a strong farm safety net including crop insurance and discusses the need for adequate funding for rural development.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Sleight, President and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. Access to global markets is critical to the success of America’s agriculture industry. Global trading partners are accusing the Trump administration of shifting to a more protectionist trade attitude meanwhile pursuing bi-lateral and multi-later trade accords without the U.S. In this interview, Sleight responds to trade rhetoric and identifies other challenges the U.S. faces in maintaining global market share. Sleight also previews the group’s upcoming Summer meeting in Vancouver.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Rodney Davis. The Illinois Republican says the task ahead of crafting a new farm bill is easier because of the success of the current legislation that saved billions and provided effective risk management tools for farmers. As a sub-committee chair on the House Agriculture Committee, Davis discusses the need for funding ag research, his thoughts on reorganizing USDA and objectives for reopening the NAFTA trade agreement.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Kentucky First District Representative James Comer. The Kentucky Republican is one of a few elected officials who actively farms for a living and recognizes the challenge of approving new farm policy. In this interview, Comer discusses proposed budget cuts on agriculture and nutrition programs and Medicaid. Comer says the Dodd Frank legislation has hurt his district and may prevent farmers access to loans next year. As a beef producer, Comer supports efforts to protect livestock farmers but admits funding is an issue.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Terry O’Neel, President of the National Pork Board. The Nebraska hog farmer says growth is the key word for the U.S. Swine industry with increased global demand and expanded offerings for pork at restaurants across the country. In this interview O’Neel shares a new direction for product promotion, the Pork Board’s proactive effort to maintain a secure pork supply and pork producer outreach to a new generation of pork consumers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Sally Rockey, Executive Director for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. The FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to further the work of the Department of Agriculture by identifying potential immediate and long term researchable questions that could bring stability and growth to the nation’s food supply as well as find matching funds to maximize taxpayer dollars in research. As the Senate Ag Committee focuses on the farm bill research title this week, the FFAR will make its case for reauthorization in the upcoming farm bill to continue efforts to build partnerships asking the right questions for solutions to propel the ag industry forward.
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Senator Steve Daines. The Montana Republican hosted Senate Ag Chair Pat Roberts and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue at the state’s ag summit last week in Great Falls. In this interview, Daines discusses the significance of a return to beef trade with China and his perspective on renegotiating the NAFTA with Canada and Mexico. Daines shares thoughts on the Trump administration’s bi-lateral trade agenda and the need for comprehensive tax reform. Daines supports protecting risk management tools including crop insurance in the new farm bill and offers thoughts on amending implementation of the ARC county program.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Kristi Noem. As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the South Dakota Republican is intent to see tax reform completed this year. While she disagrees with President Trump’s agriculture budget proposals she is pleased to see the effort to reel in the deficit and balance the nation’s budget. Noem fully supports the nation’s crop insurance program and believes an adequate agriculture safety net is a matter of national security.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jay Vroom, President and CEO of CropLife America. Today’s crop farmers are demanding new technology to maintain profitability and improve the sustainability of their operations. In this interview, Vroom explains the industry’s need for timely legislative action on the Pesticide Registration Enhancement Act and how the Endangered Species Act is affecting the crop protection industry. Vroom is pleased with the direction of the Trump EPA and has high hopes for new leadership at the USDA.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. While U.S. ethanol producers are enjoying growth in domestic and global markets for their product, the industry closely monitors pending decisions in Washington and foreign governments that could impact their outlook. In this interview, Dinneen discusses the crumbling blend wall and why the EPA’s decisions on E-15 and point of obligation are critical to the growing success of the renewable fuels industry. And you’ll hear Dineen clear the air on proposed Trump administrative action on ethanol.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Betsy Ward, President and CEO of USA Rice. The U.S. rice industry is struggling against large global supplies and low prices. In this interview, Ward identifies the challenges of competing globally against subsidized competition and the immediate reaction of Mexican trade officials to the Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from NAFTA. Ward says Title 1 PLC payments and the conservation program are high priorities for US rice farmers in the new farm bill, as well as cooperation of commodity groups. Ward also shares thoughts on cash or commodities for global food aid.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. As the Senate Ag Ranking member, Stabenow is preparing to host the committee’s second field hearing this Saturday at Michigan State. In this interview Stabenow discusses option of rewriting new policy or tweaking current farm programs, increasing idled acres under the Conservation Reserve Program and including urban agriculture in the farm bill. Senator Stabenow shares concern with the Trump trade policy, frustration over the administration’s budget proposal and support for new Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company. Congress will soon write a new farm bill in a much different global agriculture climate. In this interview, Basse discusses the challenge of crafting policy for an industry plagued with oversupply and the threat of even lower crop prices. Basse discusses options like supply management and acreage reduction and how President Trump’s trade agenda plays into the challenges facing U.S. farmers and ranchers.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Darren Ash, Chief Information officer for the Farm Service Agency. As legislators prepare to write new farm policy, work is already underway at the USDA to receive, store, manage and share data to implement the new plan. The National Ag Imagery Program includes up to date aerial photography as well as digitizing over a half century of farm images to be used by various federal agencies.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. In this week’s interview LaVigne describes an industry in a state of regulatory flux. Decisions are pending on regulations proposed under the Obama administration and anticipated under the Trump administration on biotech labeling and approval of new techniques in plant breeding. LaVigne shares industry concerns on global trade agreements and goals for the 2018 farm bill.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In this interview, the Kentucky Republican shares thoughts on this year’s legislative outlook including immigration reform, corporate tax reform and the challenges endured by the coal industry. McConnell says the status quo on “Obamacare” is not sustainable and the “ball is in his court,” when it comes to President Trump and new trade agreements.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Hammer, President of the National Oilseed Processors Association. Fresh from a meeting with Trump administration trade officials last week Hammer provides a firsthand account of the discussion between agriculture leaders and the White House. Hammer gives an accounting of the oilseed processing industry’s overall health and growth outlook including the growing bioeconomy. Hammer echoes calls for domestic infrastructure investment and regulatory reform.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. Despite what appears to be higher cotton plantings in 2017, the cotton industry is still under siege from low crop prices, global competition and competing synthetic fibers. In this interview Adams outlines goals for the upcoming 2018 farm bill as well as continued hopes for short term financial assistance until the new policy is implemented. Adams says the cotton industry is keeping a close eye on the Trump administration’s trade policy.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ohio Representative Bob Gibbs. As a farmer and Republican Member of Congress, Gibbs has been outspoken in the need to roll back government regulation. He supports President Trump's executive order on the EPA WOTUS rule. In this interview Gibbs outlines his legislation to end duplicate regulations on point source pesticide application, the need to curtail federal spending, SNAP program reform and an overhaul of government tax reform.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Minnesota Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson. As Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, Peterson delivers thoughts on the need for timely action on a new farm bill with several reforms. Peterson shares his thoughts on bi-lateral trade negotiation, immigration reform and his reservations on corporate tax reform proposals.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Leif Magnusson, President of CLAAS Global Sales Americas, Inc and Chair of the AEM Infrastructure 2050 Task Force. In this interview Magnusson shares thoughts on the challenge of the extended downturn in U.S. farm income and industry hopes for stability in 2017. Magnusson discusses the implications of the Trump administration’s trade agenda, need for corporate tax reform and regulatory relief. Magnusson outlines the challenges of a failing transportation infrastructure and makes a plea to President Donald Trump for a roundtable discussion with the equipment industry to prepare for the country’s future needs
This week’s guest on Open Mic is John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association. In this interview Bode shares his hopes for a more active pace from Washington to ease regulation, reform taxes and negotiate trade agreement to stimulate the American economy. While many fear a renegotiation the North American Free Trade Agreement, the CRA sees opportunity to enhance trade growth. Bode anticipates a better working relationship between the USDA and EPA to stimulate the bio-economy. Bode shares his thoughts on the transition of leadership at the USDA and the pending release of regulations to implement the biotech disclosure law approved by Congress last year
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association. In this week’s interview Stenzel identifies the top threat to the fruit and vegetable industry and how a shift in cabinet jurisdiction will still not resolve the matter. Stenzel welcomes a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement but strongly opposes a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for a wall between the two countries. Stenzel says the produce industry supports the Food Safety Modernization Act but hopes the Trump administration can bring relief to the burdensome regulations imposed during its implementation. Stenzel says research and nutrition are two areas they’ll watch closely during discussion the 2018 farm bill.
This week's guest on Open Mic is House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway. In this informative interview the Texas Republican outlines his faith in the Trump administration's trade agenda as well as thoughts on how to unwind the Obama WOTUS rule. Chairman Conaway discusses the challenging economic climate and the timing of discussion and consideration of a new farm bill. Conaway says the budget baseline will be a challenge for developing food and agriculture policy and will remain a top priority during budget debate for the balance of the fiscal year and approving funds for the new fiscal year.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tracy Brunner, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. As the group prepares for its 120th convention next month, Brunner reflects on the obstacles the industry has overcome and shares high hopes for the Trump administration and the 115th Congress. In this interview the 4th generation Kansas cattleman calls for regulatory reform, an end to the death tax, and a fair fight for trade agreements including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and with T-TIP negotiations with the European Union. Like other commodity groups, Brunner says NCBA hopes for immigration reform and a revamp of the Endangered Species Act. Brunner supports key provisions in debate for a new farm bill and says food labeling should remain voluntary and respect their high standards for animal husbandry.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Mike Brown, president of the National Chicken Council. With much of U.S. agriculture struggling with low commodity prices, Brown says the poultry industry is beginning an upswing with good domestic and global consumer demand. Brown is outspoken in opposition to the USDA's new GIPSA rules and expects litigation or legislation to thwart executive branch attempts to levy greater restrictions on the meat and livestock industry. Global markets represent over a fifth of domestic poultry production. Brown says the broiler industry supports Donald Trump's call for fair trade and is ready to work with the new administration to grow markets for U.S. poultry. Brown comments on the poultry industry's stake in the nation's immigration laws and looks for a resolution with the new congress and administration.Jeff NalleyMike Brown, President of National Chicken Council
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Boozman. As a member of senate committees on Appropriations, Agriculture, Budget as well as Environment and Public Works, the Arkansas Republican will be in the thick of major issues for agriculture and rural America. In this interview, Boozman discusses scaling back the Obama administration's regulatory agenda, budget reconciliation, a Trump appointment for the Supreme Court, comprehensive tax reform, the challenge of balancing the agriculture and manufacturing agendas in U.S. trade policy as well as the process of writing comprehensive food and agriculture policy.Jeff NalleySenator John Boozman, R-Arkansas
This week's guest on Open Mic is Bill Even, who was selected as CEO of the National Pork Board in June. The former South Dakota Director of Agriculture discusses both growth and growing pains in the pork industry. With a fourth of U.S. production destine for export customers, Even shares hopes for global growth in the year ahead. Animal health is a priority for the pork industry and Even shares the National Pork Board's continuing efforts for disease preparedness and industry efforts to meet consumer demands for product quality and product labels. Jeff NalleyBill Even, CEO, National Pork Board
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts. In this year-end interview the Kansas Republican discusses the USDA's recently announced GIPSA rules and the challenges he sees the language presents for packers and livestock producers. Looking at Trump's trade agenda, he's concerned about what's ahead for farm exports and renewable fuels. Roberts also shares thoughts on a new farm bill, including suggestions for those who want to separate nutrition and farm programsJeff NalleyU.S. Senate Ag Chairman Pat Roberts
This week's guest on Open Mic is Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. In this week's interview Martin explains forest owners desire to amend federal policy to treat wildfires as natural disasters preserving funding for land conservation and stewardship programs. Martin explains how estate taxes threaten family forest owners and says amendments to corporate taxes could provide benefits as well as challenges for the nation's tree farmers. The American Forest Foundation will closely watch the appropriations process in the new congress and has program goals to include in the debate for a new farm bill. Jeff NalleyTom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation
This week's guest on Open Mic is Philip Seng, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. A shift in global markets has brought a rebound to U.S. red meat exports in 2016. In this week's interview, Seng talks about the year ahead for meat trade and how the protectionist rhetoric from the campaign trail is already impacting our trading partners. He also addresses the risks and potential rewards from trading with China and the strong dollar's effect on U.S. meat export sales. Jeff NalleyPhilip Seng, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation
This week's guest on Open Mic is Carrie Calvert, Director of Tax and Commodity Policy at Feeding America. The United States is said to be the best fed nation on the planet, but one in seven of its residents is considered food insecure. Calvert outlines how her organization, often in partnership with public and private programs, helps bring food to those in need. Calvert discusses potential nutrition program cuts through budget reconciliation and the important links between farm and nutrition programs in a new farm bill. She also shares more ways for farmers and concerned citizens to get involved with addressing hunger in America.Jeff NalleyCarrie Calvert, Director of Tax & Commodity Policy, Feeding America
This week's guest on Open Mic is Ambassador Michael Froman. The Obama administration stands ready to ratify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, but following this month's elections, congressional leaders appear unwilling to take up the multi-lateral trade deal. In this week's interview Ambassador Froman responds to critics of the plan who see trade agreements as a scapegoat for job losses instead of a stimulus for economic growth and job creation. Froman discusses the Chinese led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and outlines trade talks this week with Chinese leaders. Jeff NalleyUSTR Ambassador Michael Froman
This week's guest on Open Mic is Donnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. The renewable biodiesel industry has seen much growth in production capacity and market demand, but is still short of its 2022 goal of a tenth of domestic diesel volume. This exclusive interview reveals a need for legislative attention to tax extenders, a continued call for a shift of tax benefits from producers to blenders and a desire for predictable volume standards from the EPA for biodiesel. Jeff NalleyDonnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board
This week's guest on Open Mic is Jim Farrell, President and CEO of Farmers National Company. With declining commodity prices, land values, and net farm income some fear a repeat of the 1980's farm crisis. In this week's interview, Farrell discusses the similarities and differences to the last great bear market, steeper declines for land prices, the potential effects of larger enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program and the growing percentage of land controlled by investors and absentee ownersJeff NalleyJim Farrell, CEO Farmers National Company
This week's guest on Open Mic is Jim Blome, President and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP and Head of Crop Protection for the North American region. Much attention has been given to Bayer's proposed acquisition of seed giant Monsanto. In this interview, Blome shares how the company's combined individual strengths can lead to future innovation and a structure better suited to withstand global regulatory headwinds. Blome speaks to the broader view of an industry structure, including companies both large and small, focused on developing innovation farmers need to survive and sustainably provide food for a growing planet. Jeff NalleyJim Blome, President & CEO Bayer CropScience LP
This week's guest on Open Mic is Ed Hamberger, President and CEO of the American Association of Railroads. In this week's interview Hamberger discusses the longstanding relationships between agriculture, railroads and feeding the world. But the industry is facing economic and regulatory challenges that could negatively affect the rail industry and its customers. The AAR supports expanded global trade through the Trans-Pacific Partnership and is hopeful a new Congress can bring needed change to corporate tax laws.Jeff NalleyEd Hamberger, Pres. American Association of Railroads
This week's guest on Open Mic is Bill Buckner, President and CEO of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Board Chair for the National Soil Health Institute. In this interview, Buckner outlines a national effort to develop a standardized condition rating and testing for soil health. A standardized numeric value could help producers embrace agronomic practices, technology and cropping systems which could eventually be tied to risk protection plans and crop insurance as well as the overall value of farmland. With a common goal of advancing agriculture Buckner says the National Soil Health Institute is leading a chorus of farmers, scientists, farmers and industry toward better soil health and a stronger agriculture industry. Jeff NalleyBill Buckner, Pres. Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Just after returning from a trip to Cuba, Mike Strain, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner and President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture tells Open Mic about the need to build stronger trade with our island neighbor and support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, Strain identifies the need for additional disaster assistance and other changes needed in a new farm bill. He also discusses the challenges of implementing federal regulations and NASDA's desire for cooperative federalism. Jeff NalleyNASDA President Mike Strain
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin D-WI. As a member of both the Senate Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin isn't fond of continuing resolution spending decisions. In this week's interview, the Wisconsin Democrat talks about the pending spending decisions facing the Congress following the November elections. Wisconsin farmers faced multiple extreme weather events this year and she discusses the economic and environmental storms before her state's diverse agriculture industry. Senator Baldwin outlines recent trade challenges with Canada and her thoughts on pending multilateral trade proposals including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment negotiations with Europe. Plus, she is leading a new effort to get the Office of Management and Budget to help dairy producers.Jeff NalleySenator Tammy Baldwin, D-WI
This week's guest on Open Mic is Sterling Liddell, Senior Vice President for Rabo AgriFinance and Rabobank International in its Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group. Discussion on a new farm bill has begun across the country and in Washington with calls to get an early start on new policy. Some analysts believe the nation is on the verge of another farm crisis. In this interview, Sterling Liddell offers evidence of financial stress he sees growing on crop farms and highlights factors indicating a significant paradigm shift he believes farmers will have to traverse to survive the economic downturn. Liddell believes the Conservation Reserve Program needs to be revised to help manage crop acres and reduce land costs on marginal acres.Jeff NalleySterling Liddell, Sr. VP, Rabo AgriFinance
This week's guest on Open Mic is John Weber, President of the National Pork Producers Council. Congressional decisions on trade and market direction in the next 60 days will set the course for the future of the U.S. swine industry. Weber, an Iowa pork producer, explains how market access to the participating countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is critical to the profitability of the nation's hog farmers. Weber also discusses the impact of domestic and global consolidation in the swine industry. And, with discussion beginning on a the next farm bill, Weber points to his association's top priorities for the new language including disease management and producer risk protection.Jeff NalleyJohn Weber, Pres. NPPC
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative Steve King. Fresh from a five week tour of the fourth district, King identifies the top concern among farmers and business leaders alike. King is keeping a watchful eye for debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and says despite mounting congressional opposition, the U.S. should not give up on the ideals of the global accord even if negotiations must take other forms. The Iowa Republican shares his view of expanded trade with Cuba and a conservative view of revamping the nation's immigration policy. King believes the cyclical swing in farm income may bring increased participation and views in writing a new farm bill.Jeff NalleyRep. Steve King
This week's guest on Open Mic is Dan Oh, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Renewable Energy Group. In this week's interview, learn how an Iowa cooperative expanded its quest to grow the value of soybean oil into a business with a global presence of producing not only renewable fuel, but renewable chemicals, as well as, a host of other products. Oh supports the nation's renewable energy policy but says the industry deserves a more routine, regular effort in decision making. This informative program focuses on a discussion on the value of RIN credits, the advantage of producer tax credits, crude oil prices and the new frontier of renewable chemicals.Jeff NalleyDan Oh, Pres. and CEO
This week's guest on Open Mic is Leif Magnusson, President of CLAAS Global Sales Americas and the 2016 Chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. This interview includes the status of an industry bearing the burden of a significant fall in US net farm income and the equipment manufacturers' perspective on global trade agreements. AEM supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and Magnusson shares possible consequences of a failure to ratify the trade pact. Magnusson addresses the crucial connections between the need to develop rural infrastructure, maintaining manufacturing jobs in the country and keeping US agriculture competitive. Jeff NalleyLeif Magnusson, Chair AEM
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In this interview, Secretary Vilsack discusses the current cyclical swing in farm income and the policy decision Washington must consider to protect the nation's farms and ranches. Vilsack says congressional leaders must consider "need" over budget when considering the next farm bill. While the Trans-Pacific Partnership remains a priority for the Obama administration, Vilsack discusses options to secure congressional support for the deal and defines the ominous challenge of writing regulations to implement the nation's biotech disclosure law.Jeff NalleyAg Secretary Tom Vilsack
This week's guest on Open Mic is John Keeling, Executive Vice President and CEO of the National Potato Council. In many ways, the nation's potato growers opposed the biotech disclosure bill recently signed into law by President Obama. John Keeling voices grower concern over the country's shift in labeling philosophy and ideas on future litigation and legislation on food labels. In this week's interview you'll hear what this group of specialty crop growers want from a new farm bill and their thoughts of separating nutrition and farm policy. With a fifth of domestic production shipped to global markets, Keeling shares concern over negative comments on global trade from the campaign trail and why the NPC supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership.Jeff NalleyJohn Keeling, Exec. VP, National Potato Council
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who serves the 2nd District of Massachusetts and is a member of the House Agriculture and Rules Committees. McGovern believes food is an important tool to enhance U.S. national security and says farmers and consumers can both benefit from meaningful food and nutrition programs like SNAP. As ranking member on the nutrition sub-committee, McGovern believes additional spending on nutrition programs could save government spending on health care over the longer-term. McGovern says he eats foods with GMOs but criticizes the recently approved mandatory biotech disclosure legislation and shares why he is no fan of current or pending trade deals. Jeff NalleyRep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Tom Sleight, President and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. On the sidelines of the group's summer meeting last week in Louisville, Sleight was optimistic about market growth for not only bulk commodities but for "feed grains in all forms" including ethanol, DDGS, and meat. Sleight counters much of the "trade bashing" that's been taking place on the presidential campaign trail, pointing out that the U.S. has lost more jobs to technology than to trade. He also makes the case that trade agreements build opportunities for industry and farmers as well as build relationships between nations.Jeff NalleyTom Sleight, President U.S. Grains Council
This week's Open Mic guest is U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. As the nation's political focus turns to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia this week, the agriculture industry awaits what role farm, trade, nutrition and rural issues will play in the party platform. In this week's interview, Senator Klobuchar challenges suggestions that nutrition programs be separated from the farm bill, discusses the need for global trade and offers specific reasons why the Cuban embargo must be lifted. The Minnesota Democrat is a member of the recently formed Rural Broadband Coalition and has joined other congressional leaders challenging the EPA's preliminary volume obligation targets under the RFS. Senator Klobuchar offers thoughts on the process that brought mandatory biotech disclosure legislation and what role that may play in future debate on Capitol Hill.Jeff NalleySenator Amy Klobuchar, D-MN
This week's guest on Open Mic is Pam Bailey, President and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. After months of hard fought debate over GMO food labels, standalone biotech disclosure legislation was approved by the U.S. Congress and will soon be signed into law by President Obama. Pam Bailey discusses how the labeling debate began and the challenges state labeling laws presented to interstate commerce. Bailey says GMA members are committed to providing the information consumers want and shares how digital disclosure will meet the needs of today's modern shopper.Jeff NalleyPam Bailey, President of GMA
This week's Open Mic guest is Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.The dairy industry has turned sour as the NMPF celebrates its 100th anniversary, but dairy farmers have high hopes for new policy and greater global market access. In this interview, the dairy industry veteran discusses the challenges farmers face despite an amended federal dairy policy. Mulhern sees no guarantee of a new farm bill and says debate over biotech disclosure legislation could be a precursor to upcoming debate over food and farm policy. Mulhern says the outcome of the 2016 election will set a definitive course for agriculture for the future of the dairy industry.Jeff NalleyJim Mulhern, President of NMPF
This week's guest is Representative Mike Pompeo. The Kansas Republican served an integral role in developing his chamber's version of national GMO food labeling policy. Pompeo says it's time for congress to act and get the government out of the business of mandating labeling for inherently safe items. In this week's interview, Pompeo discusses the Senate's biotech disclosure proposal and the path that language might find in the House. Pompeo shares his view on global trade in response to the position of the leading candidates for the White House, ideas on the Renewable Fuel Standard beyond 2022 and the need for improvements in the nation's transportation infrastructure.Jeff NalleyRepresentative Mike Pompeo
This week's guest on Open Mic is Michel Nischan, CEO and Founder of Wholesome Wave, and an award-winning chef. The USDA announced a second amount of funding for the nonprofit to expand its healthy food initiative into areas of Connecticut and Vermont. The $500,000 was awarded through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, enabling SNAP program participants to buy more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The program means better nutrition for consumers and increased opportunities for local farmers. In this interview, Chef Nischan shares his vision for the power of food to improve personal health, his thoughts on improving diets with fresh as well as frozen vegetables, and his ideas for the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Jeff NalleyWholesome Wave CEO Michel Nischan
This week's guest on Open Mic is Todd Van Hoose, CEO and President of the Farm Credit Council. As the Farm Credit System celebrates its centennial this year, Todd Van Hoose says he's humbled by the achievements over the past century and excited about the opportunities in the next 100 years. In this week's interview Van Hoose discusses the troubled spots the industry is facing and says increased demands for government secured loans is a symptom of the challenges some farmers are facing. Van Hoose shares thoughts on the significance of the nation's crop insurance program, CFTC reform, the need for global trade and challenges the Farm Credit System continues to see from the community banking industry.Jeff NalleyTodd Van Hoose, CEO and President Farm Credit Council
This week's guest on Open Mic is Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, a genomics and biotechnology researcher at the University of California, Davis. Her work in animal breeding was inspired by Dr. Norman Borlaug's efforts to resolve hunger issues with genetically engineered plants. Van Eenennaam believes science has been left out of the debate over how foods should be labeled saying nutritional benefits are more important than how ingredients from plant varieties were bred. Van Eenennaam notes a difference in society's acceptance of biotechnology in medicine versus that in food production where genetic engineering may provide the only sustainable solution to feeding a growing planet.Jeff NalleyDr. Alison Van Eenennaam-UC Davis
This week's guest on Open Mic is John Weber, President of the National Pork Producers Council. In this interview, Weber speaks to opportunities and challenges on the horizon for the nation's swine industry. While global demand for protein, especially pork, continues to grow, Weber and members of the NPPC adamantly support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement to grant greater market access to growth markets. At home, Weber says pork producers face challenges from the USDA's pending GIPSA proposal, the EPA on WOTUS rules, the country's preparedness to infectious animal disease, the industry's effort to further reduce antibiotics in swine production and a domestic inventory that could soon meet or exceed the nation's slaughter capacity.Jeff NalleyJohn Weber, President NPPC
This week's guest on Open Mic is Carl Casale, President and CEO of CHS Inc. The cyclical pendulum has brought the ag industry from record highs to lows not seen since the early 1980's. In this week's interview, Carl Casale shares a view that the industry hasn't yet seen the bottom of the income swing. Despite the current challenge, Casale shares a bright view for the next generation of the industry with tremendous turnover in producer demographics. Casale says CHS is pro-trade but believes the U.S. must step up spending on infrastructure to stay competitive.Jeff NalleyCarl Casale, Pres. and CEO CHS, Inc.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Chris Novak, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. In this week's interview, Novak shares the global vision of the NCGA's most recent strategic planning process and the Washington legislative agenda including continued work on a national GMO food labeling standard. He also reacts to negative opinions on global trade from the campaign trail and shares why the Renewable Fuel Standard is about giving consumers better environmental choices and not limiting the auto industry's choices to meet new economic and environmental standards. Jeff NalleyChris Novak - CEO National Corn Growers Assn.
Our guest this week on Open Mic is Colorado U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. With a family farm machinery business in operation for over a century, Senator Gardner shares his experience with the cyclical nature of the agriculture industry and the need for farmers to have access to new advances in technology to remain productive and profitable. In the discussion this week Gardner shares thoughts on the EPA and their new water rules and his view that water issues should be resolved at the state level. The Colorado Republican shares his view of the Endangered Species Act, the need for continued investment in the highways and rail lines of our nation and why he supports free trade agreements. Jeff NalleySenator Cory Gardner - Coloradocorygardner.jpeg
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Boozman. As the U.S. Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week, the Arkansas Republican expects much attention will be devoted to the appropriations process with a view of accomplishing the major work on spending bills before the end of the fiscal year. In this week’s interview, Senator Boozman shares his view on crafting federal rules on GMO food labeling, funding sources for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the need for fair trade agreements and calls for flexibility in child nutrition standards. Senator Boozman says the appointment of a Supreme Court nominee adds to the agenda of the race for the White House in 2016.Jeff NalleySenator John Boozman- Arkansas
This week’s guest on Open Mic is US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In this exclusive interview, the Kentucky Republican shares a very dismal view for approving a new trade agreement this year and his plans to see the appropriations process complete under regular order. McConnell shares his frustration with the Obama administration’s environmental agenda and thoughts on finding a compromise on federal preemption legislation to prevent state labeling laws on foods with ingredients from genetically enhanced crops.Jeff NalleySenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
This week’s guest is Alabama 4th District Representative Robert Aderholt, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture. In this week’s interview, Aderholt discusses his views on how appropriators addressed issues like SNAP benefits, rural development, sodium restrictions, additional testing for antibiotics in livestock production, crop insurance and funds to educate consumers on genetically engineered crops - and some of the challenges ahead when the bill hits the House floor, perhaps as early as next month.Jeff NalleyRepresentative Robert Aderholt - Alabama
This week's Open Mic features U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman and Kevin Kester, a California beef producer and vice president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. In this interview, Froman and Kester layout what they say are the short- and long-term advantages of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Ambassador Froman talks about the effect TPP will have on China and potential consequences of failing to ratify the trade deal. Froman and Kester also preview the next round of trade discussions with Europe in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks later this month in New York. Jeff NalleyUS Trade Ambassador Michael Froman and Kevin Kester, VP NCBAFromanKester.JPG
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. The Federal Communications Commission followed last year’s designation of broadband as a utility with additional support for internet service providers to bring communications to a larger section of rural America. In this week’s interview, Bloomfield discusses the complicated decisions involved with providing greater broadband access to farmers, rural businesses, schools, hospitals and more. But big questions remain on who supports those new revenue streams and if funding caps will allow companies to maintain affordable service for rural residents.Jeff NalleyShirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA - Rural Broadband Assoc.
This week’s guest on Open Mic features Kendal Frazier, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In this informative interview, Frazier responds to the challenges presented by the EPA’s WOTUS rules and how new ozone standards can be a detriment to land management. On trade, Frazier says the TPP agreement must be ratified by Congress to maintain markets and gain access to the globe’s growing middle class. Frazier shares thoughts on a voluntary COOL proposal, the need for congressional action on endangered species laws and the ongoing effort with the CME group to address market volatility.Jeff NalleyKendal Frazier, CEO of National Cattlemen's Beef Assoc.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Paul Johnson, co-chair of the U.S. Ag Coalition for Cuba. President Obama’s historical trip to Havana last week was another step in the administration’s effort to normalize relations between the U.S. and our closest Communist neighbor to the south. In this interview, Johnson says Cuban policy is no longer “somebody else’s issue.” Johnson believes Cuban trade policy has implications throughout Latin America and says Secretary Vilsack has changed the game toward better relations between the two countries and in establishing new market opportunities between the two sides.Jeff NalleyPaul Johnson, Co-Chair U.S. Ag Coalition for Cuba
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Thune. In this interview, the South Dakota Republican shares his frustration with the chamber’s failure to craft a national voluntary labeling bill for foods that contain ingredients from genetically enhanced crops. Senator Thune points attention to the role the minority must play in bringing the issue to a successful conclusion. Thune also addresses President Obama’s plan to cut crop insurance funding and questions the administration’s commitment to seeing congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. While Senator Thune supports additional trade with Cuba, he has reservations about the steps President Obama has taken to normalize trading between the two countries.Jeff NalleySenator John Thune- SD
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Snyder, President of Field to Market. With nearly 100 members and growth in active projects, sourcing programs and participating acres, the alliance for sustainable agriculture is answering consumer calls for transparency in food production. In this interview, Snyder discusses how the food production industry is placing greater emphasis on sustainability and responds to calls for federal standards to define sustainable agriculture.Jeff NalleyRod Snyder, President, Field to Market
This week’s guest on Open Mic is John Bode, CEO and President of the Corn Refiners Association, who talks about the chaos, confusion and higher food costs that could result if Vermont’s GMO labeling law goes into effect July 1. Senate Agriculture leaders are wrestling with a path forward to preempt the law with a new federal labeling standard. In this timely interview, Bode offers results of a study measuring the per household cost of state mandated labels. Bode offers the Corn Refiners view of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and suggests needed change in how the federal government develops federal nutrition policy. Jeff NalleyJohn Bode, Pres. Corn Refiners Association
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, who shares make or break provisions of the GMO labeling bill scheduled for consideration this week. The North Dakota Democrat sees the food labeling debate as another opportunity to consider a voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling program for meat. She also talks about currency manipulation and expanded trade opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Heitkamp favors expanded trade with Cuba and has introduced legislation to allow private financing for commodities. She’s concerned about attacks to current farm programs and has begun policy discussions on the next farm bill, with a focus on research and rural development. Jeff NalleySen. Heidi Heitkamp
This week’s Open Mic guest is Richard Wilkins, President of the American Soybean Association. In this week’s interview, Wilkins discusses how the vacancy on the Supreme Court may affect the Obama administration’s environmental policy, the soybean farmer’s view of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, whether or not the new farm bill protects farmers during times of lower crop prices and the ASA’s view of proposed cuts to crop insurance. Wilkins says the clock is ticking for Congress to address a nationwide biotech food labeling law and looks forward to Senate Agriculture Committee action later this week. Jeff NalleyRichard Wilkins
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Walker, Vice President of Case IH North America Agriculture Division and Chair of the Ag Sector Board for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. A progressive downturn in net farm income has brought a significant decline in the equipment industry. In this interview Walker tells Agri-Pulse he expects further declines but says advances in technology will fuel future sales as farmers strive for both efficiency and sustainability. Walker says new tax policy will benefit both farmers and equipment manufacturers. Walker sees some areas for compromise on farm programs but not for risk protection from crop insurance.Jeff NalleyJim Walker, Vice President of Case IH North America Agriculture Division
This week’s Open Mic Guest is the new President of the American Farm Bureau Federation Zippy Duvall. As a representative of the nation’s largest general farm organization, Duvall says it’s important for the farm and rural voice to be heard on the national and local level. In this interview Duvall speaks to the industry’s ongoing battle to stop the EPA’s Waters of the US regulations, the need for a national voluntary labeling law and the challenging plight of the cotton industry. Duvall says the AFBF is still evaluating the text of the TPP but is ready to join the fight for greater access to global markets.Jeff NalleyZippy Duvall, Pres. AFBF
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Greg Ibach, President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The group begins their 100th anniversary celebration with their winter policy forum this week in Washington. In this interview Ibach shares the group’s hope for increased trade opportunities with the Trans Pacific Partnership trade accord, their concern for pollinator health and for over reach by the EPA with WOTUS regulations. While safe food is a top priority for farmers and government, Ibach says NASDA has reservations regarding implementation of the Food Safety Moderization Act.Jeff NalleyGreg Ibach - President NASDA
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jean Ronnei, President of the School Nutrition Association. The Senate Agriculture Committee took the first step toward school nutrition reauthorization last week with a bipartisan compromise on critical reform issues. Jean Ronnei says the legislation addresses both hunger and nutrition. Ronnei shares her concerns over declining student participation and funding for school nutrition as well as hope that proposed reforms can help districts provide healthy and tasty foods that students want to eatJeff NalleyJean Ronnei - President School Nutrition Assn.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. In this update you’ll hear why the industry is calling on a cottonseed designation from the USDA and concerns the cotton and textile industry have with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. While the 2014 Farm Bill provided greater risk management tools for farmers, many producers may be challenged to secure financing for this season’s production. Adams also explains the cotton industry’s concerns with USDA’s definitions of those deemed actively engaged in farming.Jeff NalleyDr. Gary Adams - NCC
This week’s Open Mic guest is American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. In this interview, Stallman reflects on his tenure as leader of the nation’s largest general farm organization and many of the changes that occurred. Stallman discusses accomplishments in the last session of Congress and identifies ominous challenges still facing the industry on Capitol Hill and in courtrooms across the country. The Texas farmer and rancher shares thoughts on the debate over GMO labeling, comprehensive tax reform, risk management and why EPA water quality regulations are such a threat to private property rightsJeff NalleyBob Stallman
Our guest on this edition of Agri-Pulse Open Mic is Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The seed industry is among many groups hoping Washington will approve legislation to establish a national voluntary GMO labeling standard. In this in-depth interview, Andy LaVigne discusses industry implications if Congress fails to develop national guidelines to override state statutes and how the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is the first to acknowledge seed technology in global commerce. LaVigne says plant breeding technology is developing faster than government regulatory systems with potential consequences for both farmers and consumers. Finally, LaVigne offers thoughts on recent company mergers. Jeff NalleyAndy LaVigne - CEO ASTA
Iowa Congressman David Young discusses the wins and losses for agriculture in last week’s congressional action on spending and taxes in this week's Open Mic. While agriculture failed to see language to stop the EPA from enforcing its WOTUS regulations and couldn’t establish a national standard for voluntary GM food labeling, he shares other policy victories on taxes and renewable fuels. For the year ahead, Young discuss his goals for comprehensive tax reform, continued support for renewable energy, the potential for a multi-year budget process and he shares some pointed questions for 2016 presidential candidates when they visit his home state of Iowa.Jeff NalleyRepresentative David Young
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rep. Collin Peterson, the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. In this interview, the Minnesota Democrat shares his concerns with the current farm law and on how farmers are using its risk management tools. Peterson identifies what he sees as two flaws in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shares his thoughts following a recent hearing on the Farm Credit System. Peterson says it’s too soon to pass judgement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and believes it may be an uphill battle to find congressional approval. Jeff NalleyRep. Collin Peterson
This week Agri-Pulse Open Mic features Jeff Swanhorst, chief credit officer for AgriBank. Lower farm income is already affecting farm balance sheets and raising concerns about operating loans. This interview includes tough questions and straight answers on the sufficiency of the new farm bill and crop insurance to help farmers manage risk, the outlook for farmland prices, and how lower commodity returns could force a shift in crop acreage. Jeff Swanhorst says the industry has entered an ag efficiency cycle that will likely include further producer consolidation.Jeff NalleyJeff Swanhorst, EVP AgriBank
Agri-Pulse Open Mic features U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly. The Hoosier Democrat is an outspoken critic of the Environmental Protection Agency’s WOTUS rule. In this week’s interview, Donnelly suggests legislative action may still be possible to thwart the agency’s new regulations. Senator Donnelly shares support for the Export Import Bank, has hopes for child nutrition reform and feels an urgency to resolve COOL laws in light of pending trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico. Like others in Washington and across the country, Donnelly is evaluating the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and shares ideas on what is needed to gain his vote on the measure.Jeff NalleySenator Joe Donnelly-IN
Our guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. In this week’s interview the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee discusses a challenging agricultural agenda. With time running out on the congressional calendar, Stabenow feels an urgency to find compromise on GMO labeling and COOL trade laws. Stabenow discusses a potential compromise on child nutrition reform and defines the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as a complicated proposal with benefits for agriculture but challenges for industry. Stabenow also lists legislation that could be included in an omnibus appropriations bill next month.Jeff NalleySenator Debbie Stabenow
From her family’s Iowa farm to the troubled lands of the Middle East, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to the nation’s security: for ample food and against foes. In this week’s Open Mic Interview U.S. Senator Joni Ernst shares her thoughts on proposed legislative action to block the EPA’s new clean water rules, the economic significance of the agency’s RFS volume obligation announcement, long term funding for the Highway Trust Fund and why Washington should address GMO food labeling.Jeff NalleySenator Joni Ernst
This week’s guest on Open Mic is former US Senator Kent Conrad. As a former Chair of the Senate Budget Committee the North Dakota Democrat is well versed on the country’s challenging fiscal policy. In this week’s interview Senator Conrad discusses the appropriations deadline, the debate over the debt ceiling, the advantages to a two-year budget and secure long term funding for the country’s transportation infrastructure. Conrad says the American people should ignore some voices in the Congress,Jeff NalleySenator Kent Conrad
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. The Missouri Republican believes the nation is on the cusp of major decisions that could wreak havoc or provide great opportunities for growth for the nation’s economy. In this week’s interview, Blunt discusses Congressional challenges including uncertainty in the House Speakers post, obstacles to an agreement on spending, long term funding options for highway infrastructure and the outlook for Senate action on GMO labeling and Country of Origin Labeling.Jeff NalleySenator Roy Blunt - Missouri
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble. The 8th district Republican left the Freedom Caucus last week in the fallout from a failed attempt to elect a new House Speaker. In this week’s interview, Ribble outlines challenges the Congress faces in approving a spending plan and his efforts to bring about a two-year budget cycle. He sees action soon on the nation’s debt ceiling and tax extenders but says the bigger issue lies between liberal Senate Democrats and conservative GOP leaders on spending. Ribble strongly opposes the EPA’s new clean water rules but supports a new voluntary program to reduce nutrient runoff in his home state.Jeff NalleyRep. Reid Ribble
This week’s Open Mic features Oklahoma State University’s Dr. Jayson Lusk who has conducted extensive research on consumer attitudes toward food safety and acceptance of new technologies. Proposed labeling legislation over foods that contain ingredients from GMO crops has proven to be a polar issue that may see attention in the US Senate. In this interview, Dr. Lusk discusses the consumer cost of mandatory food labels, the social and economic implications on agriculture research and technologies and the retailers reaction to consumer food buying trends.Jeff NalleyDr. Jayson Lusk Oklahoma State Univ.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Texas farmer Wade Cowan, President of the American Soybean Association. In this interview you’ll hear a farmers perspective on global trading relationships, the threat of a government shutdown and biotech labeling legislation. Cowan spent time with the Chinese officials last week in New Orleans and is optimistic for more productive discussions between the two countries. Cowan previews his testimony on food aid before the House Agriculture Committee this week. He is intently interested in the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership talks this week in Atlanta and shares his view on a successful conclusion to the negotiations. Jeff NalleyWade Cowan, President American Soybean Assn.
An upcoming merger of two major agriculture businesses will not only boost competitiveness for some of the country’s independent retailers but also join resources to bring new technologies in crop protection, nutrient management, and sustainable agriculture for farmers. In this week’s Open Mic Dan Knutson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Land O’ Lakes explains how the two-step merger of United Suppliers with Land O’ Lakes' Winfield business is a “merger of equals” combining the technology and resources of both companies to grow farm productivity despite lower returns and a maze of regulatory hurdles, like WOTUS. Dan Knutson
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Dr. J.B. Penn, Chief Economist for Deere and Company. A golden era in U.S. agriculture appears to have passed. In this interview you’ll hear Dr. Penn’s thoughts on a new economic normal for U.S. agriculture, including his perspective on renewable fuels, and insight into a pending domestic interest rate increase. Dr. Penn discusses the challenge Chinese authorities face in managing a slowing instead of a growing economy and how their success or failure affects U.S. agriculture.Jeff NalleyDr. J.B. Penn, Chief Economist Deere and Co.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Monsanto’s Dr. Robb Fraley. Disappointed with the failed acquisition of Syngenta, Dr. Fraley discusses reasons for the pursuit of the global chemical giant and his company’s plans toward the future. While some consumers oppose genetically modified crops, Fraley gives reasons to pursue next generation innovation in chemistry, biologics, and genetics to achieve growth in the world food supply.Jeff NalleyDr. Robb Fraley, Monsanto
This week’s Open Mic features Frank Gasperini, CEO for the National Council for Agricultural Employers. In this interview you will hear the frustration labor intensive agriculture faces each year in finding an adequate hourly workforce to harvest crops and care for livestock and how a coalition has grown challenging Congress to take action. Gasperini defines how some proposals for immigration reform could decimate some facets of the ag industry and threaten our nation’s food security.Jeff NalleyFrank Gasperini, CEO for the National Council for Agricultural EmployersFrankGasperini.JPG
Our guest on Open Mic this week is USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson. In this wide-ranging interview, you’ll hear his perspective on any relationship between the drop in equity markets and commodity prices, thoughts on China, Brazil and other countries lowering their currency values, and the implications of the EPA’s upcoming decision on RFS volume standards for US farm income.Jeff NalleyRobert Johanson, USDA Chief Economist
At 22, Jeff Broin managed a small South Dakota ethanol plant. Today POET is the world's largest producer of renewable fuels. In this interview, Jeff Broin shares the direct and indirect benefits of the Renewable Fuels Standard and warns of the domestic and global implications if Washington steps back from its commitment to renewable fuels. Broin says the future of the domestic renewable fuels industry hinges on the EPA's volume standard announcement later this year.Jeff NalleyJeff Broin
Our guest on Open Mic this week is Nebraska farmer Alan Tiemann who was recently elected as Chairman of the US Grains Council. In this interview you’ll hear a farmer’s perspective of market development in a competitive global environment, the value of a potential Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement, the real potential for ethanol exports and a first-hand assessment of Cuban agriculture trade opportunities.Alan Tiemann
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Governor Martin O’Malley, a Democratic candidate for President in 2016. In this interview you’ll hear his views on renewable fuel policy, environmental stewardship, global trade and why he believes leading a state like Maryland uniquely qualifies his bid for the Oval Office.Jeff NalleyGovernor Martin O'Malley
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Iowa U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. With days left before the August Congressional recess, Grassley says leaders face some must pass legislation including highway funding and a final decision on Country-of-Origin Labeling. In this interview, Grassley offers insights into possible tax reform and the final stages of debate in the budget process. Grassley also says Congress needs to take action to protect poultry farmers from the continued threat of avian influenza.Jeff NalleySenator Chuck Grassley
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rep. Rob Bishop, who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources. Bishop is pleased with recent votes on forestry and water but admits a number of uphill battles remain for his committee and Congress. The Utah Republican minces no words in describing the Obama Administration as the “bully regulation machine” and in this interview discusses his concerns about federal regulations on private and public lands, water supply, and endangered species.Jeff NalleyRep. Rob Bishop
This week's guest on Open Mic is Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. As a member of the House committees on Agriculture as well as Transportation and Infrastructure, the Illinois Democrat is positioned to cast important votes for farmers and rural America. In this informative interview you'll hear her thoughts on congressional consideration of trade agreements and angst against the EPA on implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Bustos wants a long term fix for highway spending and believes the charter for the Export/Import Bank should be renewed.Jeff NalleyRepresentative Cheri Bustos - IL
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Representative John Shimkus. The Illinois Republican is pleased with the results of the first six months of the 114th Congress but admits difficult votes lie ahead on spending and regulatory overreach. Shimkus also discusses upcoming trade pacts, GMO labeling and the renewable fuel volume debate.Jeff NalleyRep. John Shimkus - IL
This week's Open Mic features Representative Ron Kind. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Wisconsin Democrat supports free trade and explains why it was such a difficult vote for many Democrats, who largely opposed President Obama. Kind shares his thoughts for the Obama administration in the latter stages of the TPP negotiations, especially in regard to his home state’s dairy industry. He also discusses EPA’s proposed waters of the U.S. rule. As a long-time farm bill critic, he also talks about further changes he’d like to see in crop insurance and other farm programs.Jeff NalleyRep. Ron Kind
A downturn in commodity prices and the biggest animal health emergency in that state's history has taken a financial toll on Iowa agriculture. In this week's interview, Iowa's Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey addresses producers' recovery from avian influenza and their preparation for further challenges from the disease. Northey discusses the impact of the EPA's delay in announcing RFS volume standards and his disappointment with congressional action on TPA. The road to the White House leads through Iowa and he shares his message for candidates seeking the Oval Office.Jeff NalleyIowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey
Our guest this week is Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. In this week's interview Minister Ritz says the US is out of options and out of time with regard to Country-of-Origin labeling. He discusses the retaliation timetable and the billions of dollars in tariffs that could be placed on U.S. goods. In addition, Ritz says Canada is closely watching the Trade Promotion Authority vote in the U.S. Congress and working closely with Secretary Tom Vilsack to overcome other tough trade issues.Agri-Pulse staffCanadian Ag Minister Gerry Ritz
This week's guest on Open Mic is Joel Brandenburger, President of the National Turkey Federation. In this interview, you'll hear an industry that is poised for growth but facing real challenges associated with the Avian Influenza outbreak. The turkey industry supports global trade but is also investing $2-million dollars in a two-year campaign to grow domestic turkey consumption. In this wide ranging interview, he also talks about antibiotics in turkey production, Cuba trade, and the Renewable Fuel Standard.Jeff NalleyJoel Brandenburger, President National Turkey Federation
This week's guest on Open Mic is US Senator Heidi Heitkamp. As an outspoken advocate for agriculture and rural America, the North Dakota Democrat was instrumental in crafting the 2014 farm bill and now has proposed legislation to address uncertainty over renewable fuels and waters of the US as well as expanding trade with Cuba. In this interview Senator Heitkamp shares her thoughts on food labeling and outlines senate debate over Trade Promotion Authority for President Obama. While trade dominates the legislative agenda this week, Heitkamp hopes for timely action on the highway trust fund, the export-import bank and national security issues.Jeff NalleySenator Heidi Heitkamp
This week's guest on Open Mic is Minnesota US Representative Collin Peterson. In this interview Peterson discusses his position on Trade Promotion Authority for the Obama administration and the dangers of change to the nation's crop insurance program. The House Ag Committee Ranking Member thinks environmentalists have control of the White House and favors congressional action to thwart implementation of the new EPA Clean Water definition Jeff NalleyRep. Collin Peterson
This week's Open Mic guest is Michigan US Senator Debbie Stabenow. As Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee Stabenow says she's concerned about the budget process and is ready to defend the agriculture policy she and others worked so hard to approve. Stabenow says she wants to export products not jobs. In this interview, she shares her reservations about granting Trade Promotion Authority for the administration and her support for expanding trade with Cuba.Jeff NalleySenator Debbie Stabenow
Our guest on Open Mic is US Senator John Hoeven. As a strong advocate for agriculture and rural issues, the North Dakota Republican supports enhanced global trade and opposes government regulatory overreach. In this interview, Hoeven discusses his plan for providing flexibility for school nutrition standards and thoughts for providing funding for a long term highway bill.Jeff NalleySenator John Hoeven
This week's guest on Open Mic is Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin. The Illinois Democrat sees promise in the opening weeks of the 114th Congress. Senator Durbin says more open floor debate may lead to compromise on complex issues including trade and nutrition, however, he believes tax reform and immigration may be too divisive for this Congress to resolve. During this in-depth interview, he also offers interesting perspective on crop insurance, estate taxes, GMO labeling, the Renewable Fuel Standard and the EPA.Jeff NalleySenator Dick Durbin
Our guest on Open Mic this week is U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Congressional leaders return to Washington this week with an agenda bordered by trade, appropriations and a pushback against overregulation. The Kentucky Republican sees opportunity to work with the Obama administration on Trade Promotion Authority and cyber-security legislation, but expects push back over regulations that GOP leaders will try to repeal through a series of policy riders on appropriations bills.Jeff NalleySenator Mitch McConnell
Our guest on Open Mic this week is U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, who chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee dealing with agriculture, rural development, the Food and Drug Administration and related agencies. The Kansas Republican expects challenges to new farm programs and crop insurance this year but says the largest threat to U.S. farms and ranches is the regulatory environment in Washington. In this wide-ranging interview, Moran discusses Country of Origin Labeling law, dietary guidelines, trade with Cuba and prospects for passage of Trade Promotion Authority.Jeff NalleySenator Jerry Moran
The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act has been introduced by GOP Congressman Mike Pompeo. On this week's edition of Open Mic, the Kansas 4th District Representative discusses a national voluntary labeling program that balances the consumer's right to know what's in the food they eat with the industry's need to embrace technology to satisfy the world's growing demand for food. He also talks about the EPA's proposed rule on waters of the U.S.Jeff NalleyRep. Mike Pompeo- Kansas
Our guest on Open Mic this week is Jim Walker, Vice President of Case IH North America Agricultural Division. Ag equipment manufacturers were able to overcome the costs of research and development to meet Tier 4 emission standards during an upswing in crop prices and net farm income. Now with discussion of Tier 5 standards, Walker believes legislators should measure the costs and incremental benefits of even tighter emission standards. Walker says a more predictable tax code and relief from estate taxes would help farmers and the agriculture equipment industry weather the downturn in commodity prices. Jeff NalleyJim Walker, VP Case IH
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts is featured on this Agriculture Week edition of Open Mic. As an overseer of ag policy, Roberts plans upcoming hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the U.S. definition, Cuban trade policy, and crop insurance. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Roberts is working toward possible revisions of the US tax code as well as Trade Promotion Authority for the Obama Administration. Listen in to learn more.Jeff NalleySenator Pat Roberts
Our guest on Open Mic is National Farmers Union President, Roger Johnson. As the group prepares for their 2015 convention, Johnson shares his support for current farm bill and opposes any attempt to return to open policy debate. NFU members oppose Trade Promotion Authority for the Obama Administration, but support liberalizing trade with Cuba. Johnson and the NFU are strong supporters of Country of Origin Labeling policy and don't believe Canadian trade retaliation is imminent. The NFU stepped away from the Beef Checkoff Enhancement Working Group and Johnson says he's certain the NFU won't support the current memorandum of understanding being circulated by the group.Jeff NalleyRoger Johnson
In this week’s Open Mic, Ambassador Darci Vetter, Chief Agriculture Negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, provides an update on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPA) negotiations, as well as the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks. Vetter says the nation’s agriculture industry cannot afford to be isolated from the other ninety-five percent of the globe’s population or growth in its middle class. Support from farmers and ranchers will be crucial in advancing an ambitious trade agenda, she adds.Jeff NalleyAmbassador Darci Vetter
The legislative effort to end the US Trade Embargo with Cuba has begun with bipartisan legislation introduced by Minnesota's senior U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. The 'Freedom to Export to Cuba' bill would eliminate the trade embargo in place for more than 50 years. In this week's Open Mic, Sen. Klobuchar explains why policy changes in Cuba and the construction of a new port facility make the time right to turn the page on U.S. trade policy toward the communist island nation.Jeff NalleySenator Amy Klobuchar
Farmers are facing a cyclical turn in the industry with a period of lower crop prices, reduced net farm income and a likely increase in interest rates.This week's guest on Open Mic is David Lynn, Senior Vice-President for Financial Services with Farm Credit Mid-America. Lynn believes the industry is better prepared than in years past to weather the financial downturn. Lynn says farmers are more dependent on crop insurance than ever before and he fears program changes could put more farmers at risk. Lynn believes the uncertain US tax code is a challenge for farmers and says commercial ag lenders would be better served to look for ways to work together to serve rural communities than challenging a lending institution that operates under strict guidelines from the federal government.Agri-Pulse staffDavid Lynnlyn.JPG
USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden says it is critical for the government to provide a reasonable safety net for farmers, but that all programs- including crop insurance and conservation - must be scrutinized as part of the annual budget process. She shares her perspectives on farm bill implementation, USDA’s budget plan for 2016, and the importance of giving President Obama “fast track” authority to expand trade. Harden says the USDA will soon release its definition of “actively engaged in farming” with intent to have the policy in place for the 2016 crop year after an open comment period. Agri-Pulse staffKrysta Harden
International trade can be a “gold mine” for beef and pork producers as well as the grain growers they rely on for feed. However, U.S. red meat exports are challenged from lower domestic production and the rising value of the U.S. dollar. In this week’s Open Mic in-depth interview, Philip Seng, President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation, says the value, quality and consistency of the US product has helped the industry maintain and expand its place in the globe – despite tough competition from places like Australia and the European Union. Seng says over the next decade Asia will be home to 65 percent of the world’s middle class and that’s another reason to concentrate on global trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership.Agri-Pulse staffPhilip Seng, Pres. and CEO USMEF
As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in the 114th Congress, Mike Conaway has revised the subcommittee structure to allow for closer policy oversight and careful attention to reauthorization of nutrition programs and futures trading. In his first audio interview on ag issues this year, Conaway covers a wide variety of topics. He expects congressional action on immigration policy but isn’t sure tax reform will be a part of the early congressional agenda. The Texas Republican says the budget process will dominate the early days of the new congress and expects budget reconciliation to play a major role in policy reform and debate. Conaway says the government must respect industry investments made within the Renewable Fuels Standard but questions overall volumes.Jeff NalleyHouse Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway
South Dakota U.S. Senator John Thune believes even a divided government can be successful. After meeting with other GOP leaders at the White House last week, Thune believes the 114th Congress can work with the Obama administration on both trade cyber security and national security. Thune says a revision to the nation's tax code is possible but the executive and legislative branches of government are obviously at odds over the Keystone Pipeline and Obamacare. Senator Thune didn't agree with every provision of the new farm bill and says some supports may be difficult to defend if producers allow policy to dictate planting decisions.Agri-Pulse staffSenator John Thune-SD
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says American agriculture needs to build on the positive momentum of 2014. For the year ahead Vilsack says the relationship between the new GOP led congress and the Obama Administration on trade, transportation, budget and regulatory issues will set the pace for the industry. Vilsack says USDA continues to work toward implementation of new farm policy including a definition of those actively engaged in farming. Nutrition is on the agenda for the new year with a scope ranging from school lunches to new dietary guidelines for the nation from the USDA. Jeff NalleySecretary Tom Vilsack
New innovations in seed breeding and biotechnology hold promise of helping members of the American Seed Trade Association to continue their goal of providing high quality seed to their customers. However, consumer acceptance and regulatory approval of new seed traits proves to be a continuing challenge for the seed industry. Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the ASTA says they're introducing an educational campaign to help farmers, consumers and government agencies understand what seed companies are doing to bring new varieties to the market place. LaVigne ASTA's goal is to have a regulatory structure that is clear and transparent for the seed industry.Jeff NalleyAndrew LaVigne
Following months of secret talks between the two countries, President Obama is using executive power to re-establishing diplomatic relations and easing economic and travel restrictions with Cuba. While he cannot unilaterally end the nation's economic embargo without congressional action, the president's move has been welcomed by many agriculture groups and some legislators. John Kavulich, Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council believes the key to additional commerce between the two nation's lies in credit and acceptance by both governments.Jeff NalleyJohn Kavulich, Sr Policy Advisor
The push for agriculture productivity and sustainability has brought rapid innovation for farm machines in the US and around the globe. While global food, fiber and fuel demand promise opportunity for machinery manufacturers, the agriculture equipment industry faces real challenges from a global economic downturn, higher emission standards, uncertain U.S. tax policy and a paradigm shift in net farm income from lower commodity prices. Charlie O'Brien, Senior Vice President for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers says technology in the coming generations of farm machinery will lead to a more rapid turnover of equipment sales as producers strive to maximize both efficiency and production.Jeff NalleyCharlie OBrien, Sr VP-Association of Equipment Manufacturers
US Senator Saxby Chambliss is returning to his home in Georgia after two decades of service in Washington. A strong advocate for rural America and agriculture, Chambliss believes challenges will come in the 114th congress to risk management tools approved in the new farm law. Chambliss says urban representation on the agriculture committees and budget constraints will make approving new farm policy even more difficult in the years to come. As a member of the 'Gang of Six', Chambliss says there will be consequences if elected leaders don't address some very difficult fiscal decisions.Jeff NalleySenator Saxby Chambliss
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas persevered with agriculture groups and congressional leaders to bring a new farm bill to law. In the 114th Congress, Lucas says he'll be diligent to protect funding for the risk management tools he sees essential for the nation's farmers and ranchers. Lucas favors Trade Promotion Authority for the administration and supports incoming committee chairman Congressman Mike Conaway's plans for hearings on nutrition and other aspects of farm policy.Jeff NalleyChairman Frank Lucas
Iowa US Senator Tom Harkin has been a voice for farm and rural issues for four decades in Washington. Working with eight different farm bills, Harkin championed the nation's efforts on conservation, nutrition, energy and farm policy. The Iowa Democrat says future farm policy will require a broader coalition of voters that represent rural issues as well as agriculture and more tools to protect natural resources.Jeff NalleySenator Tom Harkin
While the dairy industry has seen improved financial stability this year, Tom Gallagher CEO of Dairy Management Incorporated says the combination of larger global supplies and unstable economies makes the 2015 dairy outlook more challenging. Domestically, Gallagher says DMI has signed seven different partnerships to boost fluid milk consumption to a health and wellness minded consumer base. The effort will see an investment of over half a billion dollars in new packaging and new products to grow market share at home and with consumers around the world.Jeff NalleyTom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc.
Along with other food and beverage manufacturers, the Snack Food Association opposes individual state mandated food labels. Tom Dempsey, CEO of the SFA says their members aren't concerned about the safety of foods with ingredients from genetically enhanced crops but they do support a single federal law regarding food labeling and GMOs. Dempsey says the menu of snack foods continues to expand and is finding a larger share of consumer's diets with portable foods consumed between meals.Jeff NalleyTom Dempsey, CEO of the Snack Food Association
Amid unease in the strength of the domestic and global economy the Farm Credit Administration has seen growth in the quantity and quality of loans. Dr. Jill Long Thompson Board Chair and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration believes the 2014 farm bill provides the risk management tools tools producers need to weather the cyclical shift in commodity prices and pending higher interest rates. Remembering the farm crisis in the 1980's and the meltdown in the financial sector in 2008, Thompson says the Farm Credit Administration and the Farm Credit system are working to ensure a safe and sound lending system for generations to come. Jeff NalleyDr. Jill Long Thompson Board Chair and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration
Challenged to enhance sustainability and increase productivity, the crop industry continues to search for new scientific benchmarks to meet the growing demand for food, fiber and fuel. Jim Blome, President and CEO of Bayer CropScience says the company is heavily invested in discovering new benchmarks in genetics, conventional plant breeding, biologics, and crop protection. Blome says the crop science industry needs consistent and predictable domestic and global regulatory system to give farmers access to new innovations in the industry.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOJim Blome, Pres & CEO Bayer CropScience
Members of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives have real concerns with the EPA regulatory proposals for waters of the US and are hopeful congress will step up with meaningful immigration reform. Chuck Conner says while farmers are busy in their fields with the 2014 harvest, cooperative members are on task with handling, drying and storing an expected record corn and soybean crop this year.Jeff NalleyChuck Conner, President, CEO of NCFC
Field to Market is a diverse multi-stakeholder alliance including nearly every aspect of the food supply chain to define sustainability in today's agriculture and provide food for future generations. This group of farmers, food manufacturers, agribusinesses and conservationists is guided by science and outcomes to help farmers become better stewards. Fresh from a White House meeting on this topic, President Rod Snyder explains how the sum of their effort is a better understanding of the balance of nature and the growing need for more and better food.Jeff NalleyRod Snyder, President Field to Market
American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman hopes the lame duck session of the congress can agree to preserve cash accounting for farmers and ranchers as well as restoring the Section 179 advanced depreciation option. Stallman hopes the Obama administration stays within their authority on any potential action on immigration reform and still calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw their proposed rule on Waters of the United States. Stallman encourages trade negotiators to “hang tough” against those countries who are reluctant to open their borders to US agricultural products.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOBob Stallman
With last week’s announcement of the final rules for the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program and the Price Loss Coverage Program, farmers and landowners can now begin the process of sign-up for risk protection under the new farm law. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA is ready for what promises to be a challenging task for FSA staff and the nation’s crop farmers. Vilsack has a wish list for the upcoming lame duck session of congress and says ongoing trade talks with the Japanese have implications far beyond the Trans-Pacific Partnership.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOUSDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
Dow AgroSciences announced a long awaited USDA approval for a new crop herbicide last week as well as a collaborative research and development agreement to benefit livestock producers. CEO Tim Hassinger says strategic agreements help companies share risk, resources and expertise in an effort to help agriculture meet the food and fiber needs of a growing planet.Jeff NalleyTim Hassinger, CEO Dow AgroSciences
Congress is running short of time to deal with a continuing resolution to fund the government into Fiscal 2015. Alabama 4th District Representative Robert Aderholt, who serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related agencies, shares his outlook on the funding bill and controversial topics like the Export-Import Bank and school lunch guidelines.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORepresentative Robert Aderholt
Iowa's 4th District Representative Steve King says a budget agreement for the new fiscal year is a top legislative priority for the House of Representatives this month. On regulations, King says the EPA's Waters of the U. S. Rule is an administrative over reach and another example of an overzealous administration.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORep. Steve King
David Friedberg, CEO of The Climate Corporation says new sensor technologies, data management and storage is bringing a transformation to the agriculture industry. His company is a pioneer in data science gathering pertinent data to create a perpetually evolving model allowing farmers to better predict outcomes in their farming operations. Acquired by Monsanto last year, The Climate Corporation is now covering 50-mllion acres with their free service "Climate Basic" and introduced a $3 dollar per acre subscription advisory service fee for a premium service "Climate Pro" this past week at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIODavid Friedberg, CEO of The Climate Corporation
Michael Brown with the National Chicken Council says growing demand for protein and lower feed prices are giving reason for optimism in the chicken industry. Trade issues with Russia are challenging but will be eclipsed by demand from other global and domestic customers.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOMichael Brown, President of NCC
NCGA CEO Rick Tolman has spent over 30 years serving the nation's feed grain industry. At the end of September Tolman will end his 14 year career as lead of the nation's corn farmers. With record corn production and record membership in the organization, Tolman and corn grower leadership have guided the industry through many challenges. He sees continued growth and opportunity in their future.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORick Tolman, NCGA CEO
The US grain industry will see a paradigm shift to ample supplies and lower prices in this crop year. Illinois corn farmer and newly elected president of the US Grains Council, Ron Gray sees the shift as a challenge and an opportunity. The industry feels the burden to increase production to meet demand but is also challenged by trade restrictions that stymie growth opportunities.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORon Gray, President of U.S. Grains Council
As Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings seeks to guide the legislative process in both growing the economy and protect federal lands. Last week the House approved legislation to bring transparency to the Endangered Species Act and looks to develop policy to grow jobs from harvesting energy resources in federal lands. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIODoc Hastings
Our guest this week is Missouri 6th District Representative Sam Graves. As chair of the House Small Business Committee and member of the Transportation Committee, Graves is anxious for a long term resolution to finding resources for the Highway Trust Fund. He has introduced legislation to reign in EPA regulations on farms and small businesses. Graves wants a solution to the nation's immigration policy, but says the administration should do more to enforce the country's existing immigration policy. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORep. Sam Graves, MO-6
The FDA and USDA have said that genetically modified crops are safe and should not warrant additional food labels. Others argue consumers have a right to know if the foods they purchase include ingredients from such crops. At least 30 states have considered additional food label requirements. Vermont recently became the first state to pass their own GMO labeling laws that now are seeing legal challenge from the GMA and othersSELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOMike Gruber
Drought and disease have reduced cattle and hog numbers in the US at a time when global meat demand is at an all time high. Phillip Seng, President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation says trade agreements and accepted science are keys to unlock potential additional global meat sales. He describes the impact of growing meat demand in places like China and Latin America and how the USMEF is working to secure additional market share for the US livestock industry.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOPhillip Seng, President, CEO of USMEF
Global soybean and other oilseed producers gathered in Paris, France last week participating in the International Oilseed Producers Dialogue. As President of the American Soybean Association, Iowa’s Ray Gaesser participated in the discussion of developing a unified voice on issues of biotechnology, sustainability and global acceptance of new production technologies among global oilseed consumers.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORay Gaesser
Our guest on Open Mic this week is Patti Montague, CEO of the School Nutrition Association. With the debate heating up between First Lady Michelle Obama and House appropriators over what should or should not be required in school lunches, we asked her to provide more insight on SNA’s position. The SNA supports the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act to provide not only healthy meals for students, but also to help them learn better eating habits. But SNA believes schools should be granted flexibility to meet the nutritional needs of students and avoid costly food waste. She explains why SNA supports the spirit of the law, but is concerned about some of the most rigorous regulations for both whole grains and sodium levels in foods. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOPatti Montague, CEO School Nutrition Association
Our guest this week is Jo Ann Emerson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. After a failed attempt to bring legislative change in carbon emissions through the US Congress in 2009, President Obama is now using the regulatory arm of the EPA to bring about a major reduction in carbon emission from fossil fueled power plants. The move brings no guarantee that other counties around the globe will follow the lead of the United States. Coal-fired power plants provide about 40 percent of the nation's electricity. Opponents of the administration's plan see the move as another attack on coal that ultimately will raise electricity rates, eliminate jobs, and depress the nation's economic recovery.It's estimated that if the 30 percent reduction goal is achieved by 2030, global carbon emissions would be reduced by less than 2 percent. Ms. Emerson says the NRECA is concerned about the environment and points out that they've voluntarily cut carbon emissions in half over the past decade without additional government regulations.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOJo Ann Emerson, CEO of the NRECA
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chris Novak, CEO of the National Pork Board, which provides the producer leadership for the Pork Checkoff. Novak discusses the challenges and opportunities U.S. pork producers have experienced this year, including the loss of more than 8 million piglets from the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV). Even though some pork supply will be made up through the marketing of heavier weight hogs, the dramatic losses – couple with strong domestic and global demand – are resulting in substantially higher prices for producers and consumers. Novak also discusses key demand factors and industry consolidation.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOChris Novak, CEO National Pork Board
Senator Mike Johanns is well seasoned in international agricultural trade and U.S. farm policy. He served as governor of Nebraska and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture before he was elected to the U.S. Senate. As the 2014 farm legislation goes into effect, he comments on his view of new and existing programs. He also talks about expanding agricultural trade and the factors that limit the ability of negotiators to strike advantageous deals with Asian and European nations. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOSenator Mike Johanns
Congress has finally passed the second authorizing bill to improve inland waterways and ports and streamline the approval process by the Corps of Engineers. Congressman Rodney Davis from Illinois was a co-sponsor of the bill and a member of the House-Senate conference committee. Davis says WRRDA is primarily a jobs bill and predicts it will shorten the approval process for new projects from fifteen to three years. However, it remains an authorizing bill that does not yet have appropriations to construct or repair any waterway or port.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIORodney Davis-IL
Laura Batcha is CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association which is meeting in Washington, D.C. this week.Organic appears to be going mainstream. USDA certification of organic production has allowed the word "Organic" to become one of the three top trademark words for foods. Wal-mart is planning to expand sales of organic products in its stores in the United States.Batcha speaks of the challenges of growth while maintaining standards and developing an organic "checkoff" that will do as much, or more, than other checkoff programs for commodities. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOLaura Batcha
In this wide ranging interview, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., shares his thoughts about why it was so difficult to pass a new farm bill and his perspective on issues like the definition of “actively engaged” as USDA works on implementation. The Oklahoma Republican is also concerned about pending rules and regulations regarding the EPA’s proposed rule on the “waters of the U.S.” and how it impacts the ability of farmers and ranchers to make a living off the land.SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOFrank Lucas, R-Okla
Adrian Smith is the U.S. Representative from the third district of Nebraska. His district is rural, agricultural and covers over half the state. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and is actively working for a variety of interests in his home district. Congressman Smith speaks about trade negotiations with nations on the far side of two oceans. He also looks at the prospects of Congress giving "fast track" trade authority to President Obama and passing tax extenders legislation that benefit biofuel production. Smith is co-chair of the "Modern Agriculture" caucus and explains how the focus will be on understanding new technologies in agriculture. Finally, he states his position on the Keystone XL Pipeline that, if built, will cross his district. SELECT NOW FOR DAILY AUDIOAdrian Smith
Bill Reinsch currently serves as President of the National Foreign Trade Council. He oversees NFTC's efforts favoring open markets and opposing unilateral sanctions. Mr. Reinsch also serves as a member of the U.S.-China Security Review Commission. He provides a concise overview of pending trade deals and disputes with optimism and criticism. Reinsch indicates that negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Altantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) are the most ambitious of the new century and could move free trade to a new plateau. Reinsch says China, even though it is not part of any multilateral agreement, is still a major player in all negotiations on international trade.Bill Reinsch
James Moll produced "Farmland", a documentary about six farmers and ranchers from across the United States. The funding for the film came from the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance but Moll says he had complete editorial control. The film had its debut on Thursday, April 14 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Five of the farmers featured in the film attended the gala event. Moll is a very high profile film maker for this type of project. He has academy award credits to his name but says he had never been on a farm until he produced "Farmland". His point of view remains understated as he says he wanted the farmers to speak for themselves and tell about their industry and affection for their livelihood and lifestyle.James MollJamesMoll.jpeg
"This is the worst drought in forty years and maybe ever," says Congressman John Garamendi, who represents agricultural areas of the highly productive state of California. He projects reductions in water usage from twenty to one hundred percent this year. As a result, he wants to build new water storage lakes in a state that has said no to such construction for fifty years. Along with support from other California Congressmen, he introduced HR 4300: "The Sacramento Valley Water Storage and Restoration Act of 2014." Garamendi comes from a strong agricultural and public policy background. He grew up on a California ranch and still has livestock interests. He holds a degree in business from Berkley and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Garamendi served as Lt. Governor and chaired the Economic Development Commission. He served in the state legislature, rising to Senate Majority Leader and later became California State Insurance Commissioner. In 1995, President Clinton appointed him to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. He was elected to Congress in 2009.John Garamendi
If you have ever participated in 4-H, you will undoubtedly want to hear from Jennifer Sirangelo, the new CEO of the National 4-H Council. The youth organization has membership of seven million young people worldwide with programs in science, agriculture, health and citizenship. She comes from a Midwest background, graduating from William Jewel College in Kansas City before receiving a MBA from Syracuse University and attending Oxford University. She was a Harry S. Truman scholar as an undergraduate. After joining the National 4-H Council in 2006, Sirangelo served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer as she led development of the council's strategic plan and tripled annual fundraising.Jennifer Sirangelo
With prices trending downward, many commodity growers are paying close attention to the Renewable Fuels Standard and whether the EPA will eventually stick with their proposal to lower the amounts of renewables required to be blended. At the same time, livestock producers and the oil industry are stepping up their attacks to have the RFS removed altogether. In this week's Open Mic, broadcaster Cindy Zimmerman asks Bob Dinneen, the president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, to offer his prognosis on what the EPA will do on the RFS and whether there are other avenues to expand biofuel consumption. Dinneen credits USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack with being a strong biofuels supporter, even though he can't say the same about some other members of the White House team.Bob Dinneendinneen.jpeg
From biotech to international trade and a wide variety of other issues, U.S. wheat growers have a lot on their plates and Alan Tracy, President of the U. S. Wheat Associates plays a key role. Tracy first entered the national scene in 1981 at the beginning of the Reagan Administration. He worked under Agriculture Secretary John Block in a number of high level positions including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Inspection Services, and Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs. He later worked in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for Agricultural Trade and Food Assistance and served for seven years as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Tracy directs the organization's global export market development program, attempting to increase wheat consumption and U.S. market and talks about some of the challenges as well as opportunities for opening up more global trade.Alan Tracy
"They aren't Drones" is the first statement from Michael Toscano, President and CEO of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), when asked about one of the newest and perhaps most controversial new tools for farmers and ranchers. He says the mission of these vehicles, aerial or terrestrial, is peaceful and offers a great advancement in scouting, service, and efficiency. Toscano explores the issues farmers will face in operating the first generation of small aircraft that are designed to gather data and transmit it back to a ground base in an era where "Big Data" has become a huge concern. In this forward-looking discussions, he also looks at "blue sky" ideas that may result in an entirely new platform for business activity."They aren't Drones" is the first statement from Michael Toscano, President and CEO of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), when asked about one of the newest and perhaps most controversial new tools for farmers and ranchers. He says the mission of these vehicles, aerial or terrestrial, is peaceful and offers a great advancement in scouting, service, and efficiency. Toscano explores the issues farmers will face in operating the first generation of small aircraft that are designed to gather data and transmit it back to a ground base in an era where "Big Data" has become a huge concern. In this forward-looking discussions, he also looks at "blue sky" ideas that may result in an entirely new platform for business activity.Michael Toscanotoscano.jpeg
The trains are running slow in this very cold winter but the BNSF Railway plans for speeding up service and building up in the years ahead, says John Miller, Group Vice President for Agricultural Operations. He explains a number of factors slowing down shipments this winter, discusses 'grain in the box' and previews the very large capital expenditures they are making to improve and expand their hauling capabilities. Miller's past experience includes serving as president of Bartlett Grain in Kansas City.John Miller
Gregg Doud is president of the Commodity Markets Council (formerly known as the Grain Trade Council). His organization is focused on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and rules that it is considering, as well as the re-authorization process and appointing three new commissioners. Doud comes from a strong agricultural background. He served as Chief Economist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and worked on the Senate Agriculture Committee staff for Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) specializing in issues relating to the CFTC. Doud questions the lack of agricultural understanding at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the range of initiatives that could redefine hedging and contracting in the United States and Europe.Gregg Doudgreggdoud.jpeg
"It was almost a miracle," said Congressman Frank Lucas, chair of the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee and chair of the House/Senate Conference Committee, regarding passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. In this week's Open MIc, Lucas details several provisions of the bill plus implementation and potential government exposure if commodity prices fall. He also responds to news media mockery of the bill over obscure provisions and discusses his political future in Oklahoma after compromising on several key provisions to gain passage of the bill.Chairman Frank Lucas
As the U.S. Senate prepares to approve a new farm bill this week, supporters and critics are still weighing in on key provisions in the 949-page package. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, understands the difficult dynamics involved with gaining approval of complex food and farm legislation, having served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 1996 when "Freedom to Farm" was adopted and as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee when deliberations first started on the present bill in 2011. Even though he is pleased with changes made to enhance crop insurance, Roberts explains why he continues to have long-standing concerns about the commodity title and is likely to vote against the Agricultural Act of 2014 this week.Senator Pat Roberts
As world leaders look for new ways to feed over nine billion people by 2050, they will need to draw on the expertise of Harry Stine, a legendary plant breeder and developer of high yielding soybeans and hybrid corn. Stine Seed was started by his father but the Iowa company focused primarily on seed cleaning until 1965 when Harry found some unusual soybean plants in a field and became interested in soybean breeding. He went on to found Stine Seed Farms by recognizing additional profit opportunities by breeding and developing higher yield lines. In 1973, he and business partners added hybrid corn to their breeding and commercialization. Stine speaks out about the current condition of agriculture and the prospects for increasing yields to meet future demand. He states his views on how technical advances in agriculture intertwine with the philosophical needs of society.Harry Stine
Got dairy? Farm bill watchers are expressing optimism that a new 'deal' can be reached on dairy, but as always, the devil is in the details. Fresh off Capitol Hill Friday night - after another day of discussions about the dairy title - Agri-Pulse interviewed Jim Mulhern, the new President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. Although no formal agreement has been reached, Mulhern - who first started working on the hill in 1983 and has held numerous positions in the dairy industry - emphasizes that the conflict over dairy programs will not prevent the 2014 Farm, Food and Jobs Act from being brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. He expresses his desire to "call the bluff" of the Speaker of the House but realizes that political pressure on the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee won't allow that option. Mulhern also addresses "post farm bill" goals for immigration reform and fair and equitable labeling of U.S. dairy products in trade agreements with the European Union.Jim Mulhern
Should USDA start implementing the farm bill's permanent law? U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is holding off for now, but in this week's Open Mic, he explains what could happen if Congress can't get the job done and pass a new farm bill in the near future. He also discusses the potential "unintended consequences" of including Rep. Steve King's amendment with the farm bill and whether or not you'll hear about the farm bill in President Obama's State of the Union address. In this wide-ranging interview, the former Iowa Governor also talks about SNAP funding, the beef checkoff, immigration reform, and finding a "21st Century" solution to GMO labeling.Tom Vilsack
With the need to feed an estimated nine billion people by 2050, the U.S. government is taking a more comprehensive approach to addressing food security issues. Jonathan Shrier, the acting Special Representative for Global Food Security and Deputy Coordinator of Diplomacy at the State Department, describes the 'Feed the Future' initiative, which involves ten agencies, led by the Agency for International Development. Shrier says one in five children in the world is "stunted" because of lack of food and discusses several of the tools, including biotechnology, which can be used to address world hunger. He also shares how U.S. farmers and agribusinesses can play a more active role in helping feed the world and build capacity in other countries.Jonathan Schrier
Dr. John Boozman, a Republican from Arkansas, is in his first term in the U.S. Senate following five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the Agriculture Committee and is keenly aware of the needs of Arkansas farmers who grow a wide variety of crops. Boozman addresses the long process of getting the Farm, Food and Jobs bill through Congress and delves into specifics on commodity and food and nutrition titles. He also challenges his northern counterparts in their efforts to tighten the definition of "Actively Engaged In Farming". He explains the workings of Congress, or lack thereof, in a contentious environment and the challenges it brings to producing good legislation.Dr. John Boozman
Paul Hammes is Vice President and General Manager for Agricultural Shipping at the Union Pacific Railroad. He joined UP ten years ago in a period of merger and transition in the rail industry. Hammes previously held various trading, asset management and transportation roles with Cargill. He has served as chair of the National Grain and Feed Association's Shipper/Receiver Committee and is a trustee on the Farm Foundation Board. He discusses the current business climate for rail carriers and the relationship of the railroad to agribusiness. He also comments on the pending Water Resources Legislation..Paul Hammes
Who would have thought that a self-made man who started as a truck driver would become one of the biggest thorns in the side of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)? Forrest Lucas, president of Lucas Oil, launched a new organization, Protect the Harvest, (www.protecttheharvest.com), to fight HSUS and others trying to negatively impact animal agriculture. Lucas is a strong voice for free enterprise and opposes government regulation including the ethanol mandate. He is an aggressive marketer, proven by the success of Lucas Oil and an investment of $120 million to put the name of his company on the Indianapolis Colts stadium for twenty years. Listen to this week's Open Mic to learn how became successful and decided to make the defeat of HSUS his legacy.Forrest Lucas
Dr. Keith Collins served in the federal government for 32 years, working with several Agriculture Secretaries as USDA's Chief Economist for the last 15 years of his career before retiring in 2008. During his tenure, federal crop insurance evolved to be the primary safety net for the majority of U.S. farmers. Collins, now a consultant for the crop insurance industry, discusses how crop insurance is an underpinning of the overall economy. He also addressed the impact of billions of dollars in crop insurance claims in 2012 and whether or not the industry can withstand similar challenges.Dr. Keith Collins
Congressman Mike Conaway is a Republican from a rural and agricultural district of west central Texas. He is the subcommittee chair for general farm commodities and risk management of the agriculture committee. Conaway sits just below the four principal negotiators on the conference committee for the farm, food and jobs bill that is currently being negotiated. He stated last week that he disagreed with Chairman Frank Lucas that the bill would come out of conference before Thanksgiving. "I would like for the Chairman to be right and for me to be wrong," he said on further questioning, "but I feel there are just too many areas that are unresolved to allow that." Conaway turned out to be right as many areas of the bill are still unsettled.Congressman Mike Conaway
In the 1960's, Dr. Mary Del Chilton, a biologist, had an interest in a bacterium that would snip the genes of a tobacco plant and allow scientific manipulation or gene splicing. She was not sure it was anything that had commercial viability until CIBA-GEIGY (now Syngenta) came to see her at Washington University in St. Louis, where she was teaching. They convinced her to bring her skills to the fledgling biotechnology industry and switch from tobacco to corn. The rest is history as she was awarded the World Food Prize this year along with two other scientists who laid the groundwork for advancement in crop biotechnology. Agri-Pulse spoke with her during a news conference at the World Food Prize event as she was countering anti-biotechnology claims and discussing the unrecognized potential in this new era of genetic modificationDr. Mary Dell-Chilton
Ray Offenheiser is President of Oxfam America, a Non-Governmental Organization that focuses on food aid to developing countries. Oxfam is a member of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network and favors major reform in the food aid system, moving away from shipping grain in more costly American flag vessels to buying food near the area of famine to support the region, citing proposals offered by both Presidents Bush and Obama. Offenheiser also discusses the science, yet the wariness - within some countries - to receive genetically modified grains.Ray Offenheiser
Jo Ann Emerson recently became the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperatives after a distinguished seventeen year career as a U.S. Representative from Missouri. She is only the fifth leader of the NRECA since it's inception. Major concerns of Rural Electric Coop's, and their members, include the need for Congressional assistance to serve low population areas and increased regulation and other mandates placed on both generating and distribution cooperatives. Still, Jo Ann Emerson believes that REC's are leading the way in increasing the mix of renewable and clean energy to make electricity. She also addressed storm damage and how a major principle of cooperatives is to help each other, even if the payment is just an IOU.Jo Ann Emersonemerson.JPG
Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize, joins us for a wide-ranging interview on Open Mic. This week, the WFP event will be held in Des Moines, Iowa with many internationally acclaimed speakers including Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Roman Catholic Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana. The WFP honors three scientists in 2013 who dedicated their careers to commercializing biotechnology in crops and addressing world hunger issues: Marc Van Montagu of Belgium, Mary-Dell Chilton and Robert T. Fraley of the United States. The WFP encourages scientists and NGOs to talk about how to address crop production and distribution problems and plan for feeding nine billion people in the future, but activists are expected to protest the recognition of science-based solutions for modern agriculture. In this interview, Quinn addresses the issues head on and provides important context for the event, which was founded by Dr. Norman Borlaug, a Nobel Laureate in 1970 for his work in improved plant breeding.Ambassador Kenneth QuinnKenweb.JPG
Right Honorable Ambassador Mike Moore serves the New Zealand government from the embassy in Washington, D.C. He is a former Director General of the World Trade Organization, In that capacity, he initiated the Doha Round of the WTO and saw the assention of China into the trade body. He expresses regret at the inaction of the WTO but has hope it remains a means to negotiate disputes. Amb. Moore is astute and colorful in his observations of world trade and describes the ups and downs of New Zealand's agriculture. He also speculates on the prospects for the Trans Pacific Partnership talks and further trade agreements with Europe. Moore salutes and credits the U.S. government and farmers for bringing food to the world.Mike MooreMikeMoore.JPG
Recognized as one of the most influential people in bioenergy, James C. Collins, Jr. is senior vice president for DuPont, in charge of Industrial Biosciences, Performance Polymers and Packaging & Industrial Polymers businesses. He is leading the effort to bring advanced biofuels to market, especially through a new generation cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa. Collins will testify this week before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the Renewable Fuel Standard and its applicability to advanced biofuel development. He also comments on DuPont-Pioneer efforts to assist corn growers to get the maximum utilization of biomass by a sustainable rotational system of removing a portion of the stover for use in making cellulosic ethanol.James C. Collins, JrJamesCollins.JPG
With international trade negotiations offering the potential for stronger ag exports, it's important to understand some of the key differences between the U.S. and other trading partners. In this week's Open Mic, John Dardis tells how the Irish view some of the trade barriers on both sides of the Atlantic. Dardis is a fifth generation farmer, who trained as a plant breeder, and currently serves as the Agricultural Attache for the Irish Embassy in Washington, D.C. Dardis sees Ireland's agricultural future in the amount of beef, dairy, whiskey and other high value exports the island nation can ship around the world while creating much needed jobs. He also offers perspective on biotechnology acceptance and how Ireland is trying to build their next generation of young farmers.John DardisJohnDardis.JPG
The Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Committee, Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), is ready to bring the 2013 farm bill to closure. She expressed frustration with delays in the House of Representatives and stands strongly on the side of providing food assistance to those in need. Stabenow explains the politics of the bill and how the President is monitoring the legislation. Action by the House to appoint conferees is a priority as she rejects the way Republicans are attempting to pass a nutrition bill that would reduce SNAP by $40 billion over ten years.Senator Debbie Stabenow
Agricultural Research Service Administrator Edward B. Knipling guided nearly 2,000 scientists with a focus on the Agricultural Research Service as the working arm of USDA science and an organization of national responsibility. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said it best: "Dr. Knipling retires with 46 years of service to the American people through the advancement of science.'' In a prestigious career devoted to the ARS, Knipling held positions throughout the agency, serving as ARS Administrator since 2004. In this week's Open Mic, Knipling shares many of the challenges facing the agency as it remains focused on science-based solutions to some of agriculture's biggest challenges.Dr. Ed Knipling
Mark Jackson is President of the Iowa Soybean Association and like many farmers, is uncertain about the size of this year's soybean crop. He's also frustrated by the lack of action on a farm bill and the implications of not having legislation in place to provide food security for the United States. In this week's Open Mic, he also shares how his association has been very active in reaching out to consumers so they can know more about the source of their food and better understand how farmers have been implementing more sustainable farming practices.Mark Jackson
Sen. Mitch McConnell has been the Minority Leader of the Senate since January 3, 2007 and is the longest serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky history, but he's facing tough re-election battles heading into 2014. On this week's Open Mic, he talks about the challenges associated with passing a new farm bill and why going back to the 1949 permanent law would be "insane." In this wide-ranging interview, he also addresses a host of other ag-related issues such as immigration reform, estate taxes, the sequester, Obamacare and the "war on coal."Senator Mitch McConnell
Brett Stuart is President of Global AgriTrends. He was formerly with the U.S. Meat Export Federation before becoming an independent consultant in the meat trade. Stuart's view is that China and Russia do not want "cheap" imports of meat and grain because it reduces their ability to be self sufficient in food production. He examines the politics and the economics of China and Russia and the role the United States plays as a producer and exporter of high quality, low cost meat and meat products.Brett Stuart
Bill Wykes is a soybean farmer and the past chair of the Illinois Soybean Association. He is a strong advocate of biotechnology and utilization of science and innovation in agriculture. Wykes is concerned about regulatory and trade issues facing biotechnology and has encouraged the ISA to host a symposium on the dynamics of international biotechnology.Bill Wykes
Lynn Jenkins is the second district U.S. Representative from Kansas. She grew up on a dairy farm near Holton. She is in her third term and has risen to vice-chair of the Republican house conference. Jenkins speaks out about federal agencies and their heavy handed approach in regulating business and industry. She has co-sponsored legislation to allow citizens to have a stronger defense against a government agency by recording phone calls and holding government personnel accountable. Jenkins is also working to determine what federal nutrition policy will be most effective in addressing citizen needs in the future.Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins
Congressman Dave Loebsack, who recently hosted Rep. Collin Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, in his southeastern Iowa district, explains why he and other Democrats could not support the split farm bill that passed the House a few weeks ago with only GOP votes. Loebsack is quite concerned about failure to get a farm bill through Congress this year and cites his concerns for agriculture if the current one-year farm bill extension expires.Rep. Dave Loebsack
Dr Richard Raymond is a former Undersecretary for Food Safety with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He addresses the social and political ramifications of use of antibiotics and growth promotants in livestock. Dr Raymond sees a direct correlation between the rise of social media and the rise in consumer fears of antibiotic use in livestock, lean finely textured meat and ractopamine. He offers constructive criticism of the industry and advice on how growers can be proactive rather than reactive.Dr. Richard Raymond
Fresh from voting on a split farm bill that creates a new permanent farm law, Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, tells why GOP leaders decided to pursue this path. Neugebauer represents the 19th Congressional District of Texas that covers several counties of the Texas Panhandle and the cities of Abilene and Lubbock and serves as a senior member on the Agriculture Committee. He describes last week's farm bill vote as a "first down, not a touchdown" as the measure hopefully heads to conference on at least the commodity title.Randy Neugebauer
Roger Johnson is president of the National Farmers Union. and a past Commissioner of Agriculture in North Dakota. NFU, as an organization, has shown an affinity toward small farmers and democratic party views, however In this year's farm and immigration debates, they are in step with a broad coalition of farm and labor organizations who want passage of bills that can be put into law. Johnson is frustrated with the U.S. House of Representatives and their inability to compromise on issues like the farm bill and discusses why passage is stalled in the House.Roger Johnson
Shirley Bloomfield, the CEO of NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association says rural customers want the same speed, clarity and quality of service as other Americans, but her members face several challenges delivering 21st Century technology, in part because wireless still needs a wired network. Her association is working with farm groups and others on a new Smart Rural Community Initiative to help boost education, telemedicine and economic development in rural areas. She also explains how failure to pass a farm bill impacts rural America and telecommunications firms who rely on USDA rural development programs.Shirley Bloomfield
Both urban and rural interests need to stick together in order for a farm bill to pass in the U.S. House of Representatives says Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in this week's Open Mic. Cleaver, whose congressional district covers both rural and urban parts of Northwest Missouri, is a former Kansas City mayor and the grandson of farmers. He is also past chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. He hopes to vote for the House farm legislation but explains why he would like to see the final bill look more like the Senate version.Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
Dr. Steve Meyer is president of Paragon Economics. He consults with the National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council. As an economist, he examines the Smithfield Foods sale to a Chinese company and speculates on whether it will be given regulatory approval. He looks at the impact of such a move on grain and pork producers in the United States. Meyer also discusses the impact of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) on production facilities.Dr. Steve Meyer
Congressman Steve King is an outspoken conservative member of the House Agriculture Committee. In this week's Open Mic, the Iowa Republican shares his observations about the farm bill that the committee wrote last week. King put through an egg amendment that may keep states from imposing standards that restrict commerce with other states. He also wants to cut the cost of SNAP and reduce other expenditures as well. King, who is in line to be chairman when the next farm bill comes up in 2018, also discusses how committee membership has changed.Rep. Steve King
With the Senate Agriculture Committee set to start writing a new farm bill on Tuesday and the House Agriculture Committee ready to follow a day later, Congressman Collin Peterson offers his views on how a new farm bill can hopefully get passed by both chambers this year. As the ranking Democrat, he talks about the compromises he's worked out with Chairman Frank Lucas on a host of issues and with Speaker John Boehner regarding dairy policy. Peterson also expresses confidence about a compromise on nutrition spending - even though the level of cuts in the House Agriculture Committee's draft bill are significantly higher than the Senate version.Congressman Collin Peterson
This week's Open Mic guest is Bing Von Bergen, a wheat grower from Moccasin, Montana and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG). Wheat growers from the northern plains to Texas are faced with unpredictable weather and that is why crop insurance is a top priority for his association. But, the organization, which just hired a new CEO, also wants a revenue guarantee program in the commodity title that focuses on farm level losses. He also addresses biotechnology in wheat as the last major grain where genetic modification may be introduced.Bing Von Bergen
Representative Jim Costa, D-Calif., is a third generation farmer who is serving his ninth year in Congress. As he and his fellow members of the House Agriculture Committee start work on a new farm bill in May, he expresses optimism that compromises can be reached on contentious issues like SNAP and dairy reform and that there will be enough Democrats voting for the bill to ensure passage in 2013. He also discusses reform of our nation's immigration laws and the Renewable Fuels Standard.Jim Costa
Congressman Rosa DeLauro has strong opinions about hunger in America, farm programs, crop insurance and food safety. Her views offer insight into the challenges that lawmakers and farm groups will face whenever a new farm bill is scheduled for debate on the House floor. DeLauro represents Connecticut's Third District, which stretches from the Long Island Sound and New Haven to the Naugatuck Valley and Waterbury. She serves in the Democratic leadership as co-chair of the Steering and Policy Committee, and is the ranking member on the Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees investments in education, health, and employment. She also serves on the subcommittee responsible for FDA and agriculture, where she oversees drug and food safety. In this week's Open Mic, DeLauro also discusses her objections to the Trans Pacific Partnership and fears that food safety will be compromised by the agreement.Rosa DeLauro
Pam Johnson is President of the National Corn Growers Association and an Iowa corn grower who encourages all growers to be more politically active. Recent challenges to the Renewable Fuel Standard threaten not only the corn industry, but future biofuels under development. Johnson says NCGA is ready for a five-year farm bill to be written, but is not a fan of some of the policy options being discussed. She also discusses the potential for the 2013 corn crop and reinforces the value of corn to a growing world population.Pam Johnson
Bob Goodlatte is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. In this week's Open Mic, the Virginia Republican talks about pending immigration bills and the potential for bipartisan support in the Senate and House of Representatives. Goodlatte wants to eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and presents his argument for dismantling the requirement that corn-based ethanol be given an unfair advantage in the marketplace. The Chairman also speculates on the likelihood of a farm bill being written, debated and passed in this year and the potential change in the number of "no" votes that occurred in the last effort to pass the farm bill.Representative Bob Goodlatte
The budgets passed by both the House and Senate are like 'night and day', but Senator Charles Grassley, believes that lawmakers must work toward a more balanced budget even as work begins again on a new farm bill. Its a difficult task, especially because Grassley says there are a lot of people in the U.S. Senate who don't understand agriculture. He also has opinions about how immigration should be modernized and what any new gun control legislation must not include. The Senator believes there are looming threats that agriculture must face including a cut in federal spending and a challenge to the Renewable Fuel Standard.Senator Charles Grassley
"The first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind," said Norman Borlaug during his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. In 1977, he was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 2006, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, just a few in a long line of honors bestowed upon Borlaug, known as the father of the Green Revolution. In this week's Open Mic, his granddaughter, Julie Borlaug, tells about the promise she made to him on his deathbed about continuing his focus on science and technology to feed a growing, hungry world. As Associate Director for External Relations for the Borlaug Institute at Texas A & M, she talks about several projects to help farmers in developing nations and why those who buy products labeled fair trade may be hurting, rather than helping small farmers.Julie Borlaug
A big dose of common sense from Rusty Fowler, past chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Fowler is with Krone, a maker of haying equipment based in Memphis, Tennessee. He talks about tax policy, regulations and his concerns that Congress can't keep their mind on their jobs enough to pass "boiler plate" legislation. He speaks in favor of governing from the center and the problem of rewarding politicians for philosophy and behavior that would fail in the private sector.Rusty Fowler
From immigration to water quality and a host of regulatory issues, members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) deal with a broad portfolio of issues every day. Steve Troxler is the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture and the current president of NASDA. In this week's Open Mic, Troxler is very optimistic that farmers and agribusinesses will do what's right for the environment and the consumer, but he is a little less sure of what Congress will be able to achieve at the federal level.Steve Troxler
Will there still be adequate federal dollars available to help get more conservation practices on the ground? That's one of the big questions facing John Larson as CEO of the National Association of Conservation Districts. Both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees included important reforms in the conservation title of the farm bill last year, but the future is uncertain. The Washington state native also discusses how implementing more conservation on working lands can help improve soil health and water quality, while giving growers more regulatory certainty.John Larson
U.S. Senator Mark Pryor would like to see bipartisan solutions to some of our nations most troubling budget issues, but in this week's Open Mic, he paints a fairly bleak picture. The Arkansan chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and talks about some of his priorities and his concerns about cutting direct payments to address the looming March 1 sequester. A long-time advocate for rice farmers in his state, Pryor tells why he voted against the Senate farm bill last year and how he views the Obama administration's proposals on gun control.Senator Mark Pryor
In his first term Rep. Tim Huelskamp earned a reputation of bucking the political system and party leadership positions that prompted the Republican House Steering Committee to strip him of plum committee assignments in the 113th Congress, including the Agriculture and Budget Committees. But the Kansas farmer handily won re-election in the state's "Big First" District and he's proud of being a fiscal conservative - one of only nine members in the 435-member U.S. House to have earned a 100 percent rating from the conservative Club for Growth for 2011. In this week's Open Mic, we asked him about sequestration and other budget issues, the farm bill and immigration reform.Rep. Tim Huelskamp
Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh does not hold back on his opinions about the inability of Congress to act on a new farm bill. Dr. David Kohl agrees and also is concerned about U.S. monetary policy and the pending change at the Federal Reserve. The seasoned duo still has great hope for agriculture and our economy. Both cite government as the greatest impediment to growth. Dr. David Kohl is a long time professor of Agricultural Economics at Virginia Tech University. He focuses on the banking industry and it's relationship with agriculture. Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh has been teaching students for forty-two years at Kansas State University and contributed to numerous pieces of farm legislation dating back to the Nixon administration. Most notably, his work in the 1990's led to the 1996 farm bill known as "Freedom to Farm".Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh and Dr. David Kohl
From his work with the Boll Weevils to the Blue Dogs, former Congressman Charlie Stenholm established a reputation for getting things done in Congress through bipartisan alliances - something that's almost unheard of in today's highly polarized political environment. In this Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview, he tells us why he believes a short-term increase in the debt limit and passage of a new federal budget are crucial to getting a farm bill passed this year. And the life-long farmer has some advice to farm organizations about how they need to change to address some of the political and agricultural challenges of the future including food, water and energy. A member of the House Committee on Agriculture throughout his 26-year House career, Stenholm served as the ranking Democrat for his last eight years until 2004. Currently, Stenholm is a Senior Policy Advisor at OFW Law.Charlie Stenholm
Extension of the 2008 farm bill for another nine months creates more questions than answers for the U.S. cotton industry. Mark Lange, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council joins us on Open Mic to discuss the how he expects the farm bill debate to play out, especially in light of Brazil's successful WTO challenge to the U.S. cotton program. Lange, a former ag economics professor, also talks about why crop insurance does not work equally well for all commodities and shares thoughts on how the new ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., might influence the outcome of the next farm bill.Mark Lange
The "dairy cliff" has been avoided, leaving many dairy producers frustrated with the failure of Congress to adopt much needed reforms. However, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is pleased with the additional time to rethink policy options, such as those offered last year by Reps. Bob Goodlatte and David Scott. On this week's Open Mic, Jerry Slominski, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for IDFA, explains his association's views on dairy policy reforms, shares concerns about declining domestic consumption of milk and the terrific opportunities for the U.S. dairy industry in expanding exports.Jerry Slominski
Dr. Jill Long Thompson was named Chair and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration in November, after serving on the FCA Board since March. Ms. Long Thompson has many years of leadership experience, representing northeast Indiana as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and as Chair of the Rural Caucus. From 1995 to 2001, she served as Under Secretary for Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she oversaw an annual budget of $10 billion and a staff of 7,000 employees. In this week's Open Mic, she discusses the oversight requirements of the FCA and the financial health of the Farm Credit System and agriculture, in general. With skyrocketing farmland prices, she describes the differences between the current agricultural economy and the last extended era of agriculultural prosperity in the 1970's.Jill Long Thompson
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has challenged rural Americans to rethink their relevance in the U.S. political process in light of the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a new farm bill. The former Iowa Governor and presidential candidate insists that President Obama clearly wants a new farm bill, but suggests that House leadership needs a little push to get the job done before year-end, when permanent law could kick in for dairy price supports and before the federal funding baseline shrinks further as we head into 2013.Tom Vilsack
Rep. Marcia Fudge, who represents the 11th District of Ohio, talks about her commitment to ending childhood obesity, stamping out hunger, and protecting the SNAP program on Open Mic. She also addresses efforts to grow more local food in her district surrounding Cleveland, one of the top five cities in the U.S. for the most urban farm acres. On the Agriculture Committee, she is the Ranking Member of the Department Operations, Oversight and Credit Sub-committee of the Agriculture Committee and also sits on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. In the 113th Congress, she will lead the Congressional Black Caucus, setting the political agenda for more than 40 black members of the U.S. House of Representatives.Marcia Fudge
A lot of politicians talk about the fiscal cliff, but dairy farmers are worried about the "dairy cliff" they face in January. If Congress fails to pass a new farm bill by year-end, dairymen will be first to fall under the 1949 permanent legislation, boosting prices to $38/cwt. Chris Galen, Senior Vice-President of Communications for the National Milk Producers Federation, discusses the political and structural problems facing the dairy industry and the need for a federal program that gives producers direction in management and marketing decisions. He also discusses the challenges faced by new USDA School Lunch rules for sweetened and flavored milk.Chris Galen
Oklahoma Republican Frank Lucas joins us again on Agri-Pulse Open Mic to discuss the current state of the farm bill negotiations and how the savings from reforms advanced by his committee could become part of the so-called fiscal cliff negotiations as a down payment on the nations debt, either this year or next. But Lucas, who was elected last week for a second term as House Agriculture Committee Chairman says much depends on ongoing negotiations between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.Rep. Frank Lucas
With holiday baking in full swing, millions of Americans will likely be purchasing or consuming a little extra sugar this season. Jack Roney, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis for the American Sugar Alliance, explains why sugar prices have been dropping and how the "no cost" U.S. sugar policy removes some of the price volatility that historically plagued growers before its enactment. Roney talks about the sugar industry's use of Political Action Committee donations to influence Congress and describes how growers are willing to level the farm policy playing field around the globe. But citing the European Union as an example, he says it would be suicidal to eliminate all tariffs or buffers unless every other sugar-producing nation did so at the same time.Jack Roney
Most national polls indicate that the race for president is incredibly close with fewer than a dozen swing states still in play. We asked Dr. Joe Aistrup to discuss the importance of the rural vote on this week's Agri-Pulse Open Mic. Aistrup, who is a Political Science Professor at Kansas State University and interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, specializes in examining political races. He is also the author of two books. "Kansas Politics and Government: The Clash of Political Cultures" and "The Southern Strategy Revisited: Top-Down Republican Party Development in the South" Aistrup dissected the politics of agriculture and rural America for both the presidential campaigns and key congressional races. He also speculates on whether or not this election will end the current gridlock in Congress.Dr. Joe Aistrup
Jeff Simmons is President of Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Company, and a passionate advocate for the role technology plays in sustainable, efficient production of safe, affordable meat, dairy and eggs. In his 23 years with company, he traveled to some of the harshest regions of the globe and gained experiences that have shaped his perspective on food and agriculture. In this week's Open Mic, he verbalizes his deep conviction for finding global solutions to world hunger, using an egg to illustrate part of the challenges ahead. Simmons, who grew up on a family farm in New York, also questions animal rights activists from the perspective of human welfare and animal welfare.Jeff Simmons
North Dakota Congressman Rick Berg joins us on this week's Open Mic to discuss his frustration over the stalled 2012 farm bill and his eleventh hour efforts to try to whip votes before the House or Representatives headed home to campaign. Failure to pass the bill has become a political hot button for the North Dakota Republican, who serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and is now running for Senate in a hotly contested race against Heidi Heitkamp. He also talks about his early years working on farms and the importance of letting 4-H and FFA kids continue to do farm labor. In a state that has record low unemployment and healthy state coffers, the Agriculural Economics graduate from NDSU also talks about his concerns that overregulation could stifle small businesses and future economic growth.Rick Berg
This week's Open Mic guest is Paul Schickler, President of DuPont Pioneer, a role he's held since 2007. He talks about the ongoing challenges with getting new seed products registered around the globe, the benefits of competition in the seed industry, as well as the firms ongoing legal battles with Monsanto. The Iowa-based company is breeding more stress tolerance into crops and reports on how those plants performed during a year of record drought. Schickler also talks about future technology that will improve consumer products and profitability for corn and soybean farmers.Paul Schickler
With USDA projecting another record year for farm exports, we interviewed Jim Sutter, the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, for Agri-Pulse Open Mic. Sutter comes from a strong background in soybean merchandising and is eager to sell more U.S. soybeans into the world market even as buyers are concerned about tight supplies and high prices. He explains the relationship between the Export Council, the United Soybean Board, the American Soybean Association and the USDA Foreign Ag Service. Sutter believes there is great opportunity to expand U.S. soybean exports and export two-thirds of the crop by 2020, but some countries continue to have trade barriers against our products, and there are increasing concerns about sustainability standards in the EU.Jim Sutter
With incredible heat and drought conditions across much of the U.S., some have compared this time period to previous record-breaking droughts dating back to the 1930's Dust Bowl years. Yet with new technologies and conservation techniques, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills explains how farmers and ranchers are preserving precious resources despite the weather-related challenges and how new conservation innovation grants might lead to even better practices. Mills, who previously directed the Senate office of Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and worked on bio-fuels issues for then-Congressman Richard Durbin, talks about how a new farm bill might shape future conservation programs and how environmental markets could emerge as a new revenue stream for producers.Ann Mills
This week's guest on Agri-Pulse Open Mic is Jon Scholl, President of the American Farmland Trust, the nation's leading farmland conservation organization. Previously, he served as Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and talks about his experiences connecting farmers to consumers and the importance of being good stewards of the land, especially in critical watersheds like the Cheseapeake Bay. Scholl gives his perspective on the conservation title in the 2012 farm bill and potential cuts in conservation programs to pay for livestock disaster aid. Although the rate of farmland conversion to development has slowed, Scholl says more focus should be given to protecing what he calls "America's greatest natural resource."Jon Scholl
Joe Jobe, the Chief Executive Officer for the National Biodiesel Board joins us on Agri-Pulse Open Mic to discuss the current state of his industry and the important roles that the biodiesel tax credit and the Renewable Fuels Standard play in supporting biodiesel production in the U.S. Jobe, who grew up on a farm in central Missouri, also explains how biodiesel, which is the only advanced biofuel in commercial production, is very diverse in terms of technology and feedstock sources and represents an important path forward for anyone interested in energy independence.Joe Jobe
Steve King, a five-term U.S. Representative from western Iowa, joins us on Agri-Pulse Open Mic to talk about how the House plans to consider livestock disaster assistance and a one-year extension of the 2008 farm bill this week. The fourth-ranking Republican on the House AgricultureCommittee talks about his efforts to prevent states from imposing trade barriers on livestock production methods against other states. King, a small business owner who says he has probably built more terraces than any other member of Congress, also talks about conservation and shares the importance of keeping the RFS in place, while preserving the delicate balance between corn, soybean and livestock production. King is facing a tough reelection race in the Fourth District against Christie Vilsack, a well-funded political newcomer and the wife of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.Representative Steve King
USDA's Chief Economist Dr. Joe Glauber joins us this week on Agri-Pulse Open Mic to discuss the drought that's dramatically cutting yields across the Midwest and how high participation in the crop insurance program in that region will protect many farmers from a total financial loss. Glauber, who oversees the World Agricultural Outlook Board, also talks about recent changes in the USDA's supply and demand reports, the potential implications of farm program changes included in the Senate and House Ag Committee versions of the 2012 farm bill, and export opportunities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks.Dr. Joe Glauber
Rep. Glenn Thompson, who represents Pennsylvania's most rural district, also chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy & Forestry. In this weeks' Agri-Pulse Open Mic, the GOP Congressman talks about the 2012 farm bill that's expected to move forward in the House Agriculture Committee on July 11 and how he hopes to strengthen voluntary, conservation programs in what will be his first farm bill. Thompson, who describes farmers as "the original environmentalists" also calls for a smaller, leaner and more effective Environmental Protection Agency, which he describes as currently "out of control. "Representative Glenn Thompson
With 2012 designated as the International Year of Cooperatives, Chuck Conner, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives has been busy sharing the benefits of farmer-owned cooperatives. In this weeks Open Mic, taped June 1, he also talks about the need to resolve regional differences in the 2012 farm bill writing process. Conner brings a unique perspective to this issue. For nearly 20 years, he served on the staff of Senator Richard Lugar and was the staff director of the Senate Agriculture Committee during the 1996 farm bill process. Prior to joining NCFC from 2005-2008, he was Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at USDA and helped lead development of President George W. Bush Administrations Farm Bill proposal. He also talks about Sen. Lugar's stunning defeat in the Indiana GOP primary and Gov. Romneys presidential campaign.Chuck Conner, CEO of NCFC
Six years ago, Amy Klobuchar became the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. Today, the former chief prosecutor in the states largest county joins us on Agri-Pulse Open Mic. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she talks about the vote last week to advance the 2012 farm bill and her expectations for amendments on crop insurance and other issues. She also points to the importance of getting a farm bill passed this year in order to keep the rural economy strong and her perspective on future trade agreements.Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Our guest this week on Agri-Pulse Open Mic is Arkansas Senator John Boozman, a freshman member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, who voted against passage of the 2012 Farm Bill in committee. He talks about ongoing negotiations in the U.S. Senate and his expectations for a southern farm safety net that offers more flexibility for growers of all types. The former cattle rancher also shares his concerns over food stamps, crop insurance and other aspects of the farm bill, as well as his frustrations over U.S. energy policy.Sen. John Boozman
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is our guest this week on Agri-Pulse Open Mic. Broadcaster Ken Root sat down with Vilsack to discuss his approach to on-farm regulatory issues and efforts to improve water quality, including the potential for ecosystem markets. He talks about the 2012 Farm Bill and differences between the House and Senate version and details the Obama Administrations views on trimming crop insurance subsidies. While the farm economy is currently booming, the former Iowa Governor describes his biggest fear for the future.Sec. Vilsack
Mike Johanns is an Iowa farm boy who headed west to Nebraska to serve as governor before heading east to serve as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the GW Bush administration before heading back to win an open U.S. Senate seat almost four years ago. He spoke about the politics of the pending farm bill and the challenges caused by geographical conflict. He also talked about the changing landscape for revered Republicans who are losing out to more conservative opponents and the surprising victory of a Nebraska Sandhills legislator who is now the Republican candidate for Nebraska's other seat in the U.S. Senate. Johanns heads up the "Aggies for Romney" campaign and was asked if he would accept the vice presidential slot with Governor Romney on the 2012 Repubican Ticket.Mike Johanns
Bill Northey is a fourth generation farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa who serves as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and also as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Taking a break from planting, he explains NASDA's perspective on the 2012 Farm Bill and discusses future challenges ahead with conservation and water quality. He also talks about the impact that social media and other communication tools has had on lean finely textured beef, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, and new varieties of biotech seed corn.Bill Northey
In this week’s edition of Open Mic, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway discusses what promises to be a frantic start to December as the U.S. Congress faces a deadline to approve omnibus appropriations legislation. Chairman Conaway is intent to see protection from budget cuts for the farm bill and crop insurance. In this interview, Conaway calls for administrative changes in the farm bill to help cotton farmers, discusses how the threat of trade retaliation from COOL is already affecting commerce with Canada, and the committee’s work to review the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Jeff NalleyHouse Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway