agri-pulse.com
In-depth interviews with ag policy leaders. New episode every Sunday!
This week's Open Mic guest is Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis for the American Sugar Alliance. Johansson says sugar growers are facing the same economic headwinds of high input costs and marginal commodity prices. Growers hope for a new farm bill with updates in crop insurance and marketing loan prices reflective of current market conditions. Johansson says growers still satisfy a majority of domestic sugar demand and support sound science regarding dietary guidance coming from Washington.
This week's Open Mic guest is Beth Ford, President and CEO of Land O' Lakes. While the cooperative is known for its dairy products, Ford says two thirds of their member enterprises are in other segments of agriculture. Ford says low bulk commodity returns coupled with inflation's impact on inputs have brought financial stress to many operations and uncertainty over global market access further clouds farmer's financial outlook. She now chairs the Immigration Committee of the Business Roundtable and says agriculture desperately needs an adequate workforce as well as a new farm bill and updated tax policy.
This week's Open Mic guest is Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association. Soybean farmers face surmountable challenges from low crop prices, high input costs and an uncertain future demand outlook. Censky hopes the current trade war is short-lived and brings worthy results. Censky says soybean farmers are watching closely the downsizing at USDA and holding out hope Congress can deliver a new farm bill this year. The EPA's pending RVO announcement could be the determining factor between profit and loss in 2025.
This week's Open Mic guest is Congressman Frank Lucas. The Oklahoma 3rd District representative says covid, global military conflicts and trade have heightened concern surrounding the size of the nation's debt. He believes it is right to question government spending with proper oversight and says the upcoming budget reconciliation process will be the "wildest political rodeo" voters have ever seen. Lucas guided the legislature into approving the 2014 farm bill and wants to see a new bill this year.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Adam Bergman, Managing Director at EchoTech Capital. While opinions still widely vary regarding what sustainability really means, Bergman stands in the gap between would be investors and those willing to adopt certain sustainable practices. In agriculture the topics include regenerative farming, a vast array of climate smart practices and even indoor farming. Washington has proven that financial support for renewable fuels as well as electricity from solar and wind sources can influence growth. Moving forward, the question remains which energy sources will see favor from Capitol Hill and what agricultural practices investors will support toward a greener environment and stronger food security.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Conner suggests the nation’s farmer owned cooperatives are well stocked as producers prepare for the 2025 growing season. Conner says many co-ops anticipated tariff issues and took early shipment of supplies for this season. A veteran of Capitol Hill policy debates, he acknowledges plenty of uncertainty surrounding the farm bill, tax policy and tariffs. Despite challenges, Conner believes legislators will take action on taxes and hopefully a new set of farm and nutrition programs.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Bill Hoagland, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center. In a day where Washington faces mounting issues of government outlays and rising national debt, Hoagland say partisanship must give way to solutions that maintain essential federal programs and services. Hoagland provides key insights on budget reconciliation, DOGE, tax reform, a farm bill and the debt ceiling, which are all critical issues facing the 119th Congress.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG. The global company is heavily invested in developing innovative technology for farmers around the world. The company’s pursuit of crop genetics, herbicide resistance, chemical crop protection and data management has benefitted farmer goals toward both sustainability and productivity. Anderson tells Agri-Pulse that legal challenges to glyphosate are limiting the company’s investments in innovation and may result in eliminating the sale of a herbicide that many farmers consider essential to sustainable production.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio. The California company was formed 15 years ago with a premise of using soil microbes to utilize naturally occurring nitrogen to sustainably feed plants and replace synthetic fertilizers. After going commercial five years ago, the company continues to grow the number of farmers and acres utilizing their gene edited products. Abbott sees a bright future for growth in the use of soil microbes to increase productivity, reduce nutrient costs and boost producer sustainability.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative John Garamendi. California's 8th district Democrat is a strong advocate for agriculture, nutrition programs and global humanitarian aid. As a member of the Agriculture Research Caucus, Garamendi believes DOGE cuts in government employees and spending cuts will lead to ill fated consequences for farmers in the form of crop and livestock disease research and readiness as well as dramatic cuts to food and medical aid for those in impoverished areas of the world. Garamendi sees little chance the California legislature will make changes to Prop 12, leaving that responsibility to Washington and perhaps a new farm bill.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Kurt Coffey, Vice-President, Case IH North America. Reduced farm income has resulted in lower volume sales of large agriculture equipment in the nation. Coffey expects some improvement if USDA releases disaster and economic assistance funds approved in the continuing resolution in the latter hours of the 118th Congress. Coffey says artificial intelligence is helping in machine repairs as well as more efficient field operations. Case-IH supports farmer repairs to their machines. Coffey says proposed tariffs on Canadian imports as well as tariffs on steel could impact their operating margins in the year ahead.
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as the 33rd lead of the Department of Agriculture in Washington, Brooke Rollins found herself in Louisville, Kentucky being introduced in Freedom Hall at the Championship Tractor Pull. A native of the small town of Glen Rose, Texas, her career path led to the White House in President Trump’s first term and now as a member of the Trump Cabinet. Speaking on the sidelines of her first event outside the Beltway as Secretary, Rollins shared thoughts on building her team at USDA, working with other cabinet members and how downsizing government may impact the work of the USDA.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jeffery Hall, Board Chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration and the longest serving member of the current FCA board. Hall reports system debt at the end of 2024 at just over $448 billion dollars - just shy of an 8% increase from the end of 2023. Since the beginning of 2020, system debt outstanding has grown over 52%. The FCA has seen a dramatic downturn in the number of institutions and farmers since the farm crisis of the 1980’s, but the amount of debt continues to climb. He discusses softer farmland values in some areas, the interest rate environment, and future areas of focus for the FCA.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Garrett Hawkins, President of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation. Hawkins says his state’s farmers echo calls to Washington to get a new, modernized farm bill approved as quickly as possible. Hawkins says his state takes issue with the Biden administration’s Green New Deal policies favoring electricity instead of an “all of the above” approach to the nation’s energy future. Missouri landowners are facing property rights issues as the private Grain Belt Express has been given the power of eminent domain to run transmission lines across the state.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Paul Bertels, Principal and Senior Consultant for Farmgate Insights. Much attention is given to the potential demand for billions of bushels of row crops should they be included as acceptable feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel. Drawing from his long career with the National Corn Growers Association and the ethanol industry, Bertles says the SAF market won’t be as easy to develop as the process involves creating molecules of actual jet fuel instead of simply blending the product. Favorable regulations, incentives, subsidies and carbon sequestration will all have to be accomplished in order to open this new opportunity for farmers and the ag industry.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Bryan Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council. Swine producers are coming off a period of negative returns thanks to ample demand from domestic and global consumers. Humphreys says pork producers are concerned about the consequences of potential tariffs on global market access and hope for a farm bill which would include limits on state mandated production practices like those in California and Massachusetts. He also discusses the Biden administration's ruling on packer line speeds, ag labor and more.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Greg Tyler, President and CEO of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council. Tyler spoke with us while he was visiting Asian customers and dealing firsthand with issues like avian influenza, potential tariffs from the coming Trump administration, as well as a weak global economy and a strong U.S. dollar. Tyler says new trade negotiations and trade enforcement will be critical to grow market access in the presence of HPAI.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging. The global packaging industry is expected to grow to over $600 billion dollars by 2033. Kelly says packaging is essential to limit food waste and maintain fresh produce quality for consumers across the country and around the globe. But just as health experts encourage higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, several states and countries are considering various restrictions on food packaging and waste disposal that would be very challenging for growers, shippers and packers to meet. Kelly says the packaging industry continues to research biobased packaging materials, but says thus far none have proven effective or affordable for retailers or consumers.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Paul Myer, CEO of Athian. The company is creating an industry-led platform to assist in funding carbon projects within the livestock value chain which enables producers to make systemic change while optimizing their operations. The company values both the economic viability of producers and the health of the environment. The platform helps to combine, certify and fund greenhouse gas reductions throughout the entire livestock value chain with an overall goal of greater environmental sustainability for animal agriculture.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. As trade tensions with China have shifted more of their imports from Brazil, U.S. soybean farmers have successfully diversified their global demand base. Sutter says domestic supplies have higher quality than soybeans from anywhere else in the world and thus prove a better value for customers both in raw beans and in soy products. Sutter says production sustainability is becoming a greater priority in some markets which is a big advantage for U.S. soybean farmers and he sees increases in both global demand and production of oilseeds.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. This western cooperative is embracing the growing need for electric power among its one million customers and 200,000 square miles of challenging terrain with an “all of the above” approach to power generation. Highley says the cooperative is utilizing advanced battery technology to add wind and solar generation to the base load capacity of the system. At the state and federal level, Highley says rural cooperatives need faster permitting, less regulatory red tape, and better access to funds to assist in generating and delivering power to rural America.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mariah Scott, CEO of Rantizo. Drone technology is being utilized at an amazing pace across many aspects of industry and especially agriculture. Spray drones now cover millions of acres of crops and the potential for growth is astronomical. Scott has been instrumental in forming the American Spray Drone Coalition, which is speaking out against legislation that would limit access to drones manufactured by Chinese companies.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dr. Tom Zacharias, President of the National Crop Insurance Services. Crop insurance companies have proven effective in providing risk management resources for farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses from various extreme weather events over the past several months. He outlines many of the changes the industry has undergone and how the public-private partnership delivers quicker help for policyholders. Zacharias says companies are financially sound and ready to provide even greater tools for crop, livestock and specialty crop growers for the season ahead.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. Farmers continue to help feed the hungry, but the number of Americans who are hungry and food insecure is greater today than during the Covid pandemic. Babineaux-Fontenot says the food lines may have moved back inside the buildings, but the need for food continues to grow as contributions are down and federal commodity donations have decreased. Babineaux-Fontenot says federal nutrition programs should be amended to avoid food “cliffs” and help individuals transition away from assistance programs.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Ryan Heiniger, Executive Director of the Conservation Technology Information Center and Iowa farmer. He explains why CTIC has high expectations for the Sustainable Agriculture Summit scheduled for this week in Minneapolis. Heiniger discusses government programs and industry interest in helping farmers embrace sustainable agriculture practices. He previews a new "Conservation Connector" which will be introduced this week to help inform producers of assistance to bring cover crops and conservation practices to more acres and reach their 30 million acre goal by 2030.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Michael McAdams, President of the Advanced Biofuels Association. After an extensive career serving on Capitol Hill, McAdams founded the ABFA in 2006. The group represents all aspects of the advanced biofuels in the nation from large refiners to major feedstock providers and new technology groups. McAdams believes government statutes for advanced biofuels are not working with taxpayer incentives to grow the industry. While the nation transitions to new leadership in Washington, a delay in the release of new regulations has the industry operating in a cloud of confusion. McAdams believes Congress needs to act in the Lame Duck Session to provide a window of time to provide clear rules for the industry to follow and meet the growing need for advanced biofuels.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Kip Eideberg, Senior Vice-President Government and Industry Relations for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Like the industries they serve, equipment manufacturers are familiar with the cyclical turns in farming, forestry, construction and mining. Eideberg says higher interest rates, a lack of trade agreements and sluggish economies around the globe and in the U.S. are proving challenging for the customers to make capital purchases. Eideberg is hopeful Congress will bring a new farm bill in the Lame Duck session or at least early next year. He says tax policy will also be critical next year as both industry and customers need amended policy on deductions for research as well as depreciation.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Randy Russell, President of the Russell Group. The race for the White House and leadership of the 119th Congress is coming down to the wire. The majority of polls show very narrow margins, but Russell suggests some trends may be developing as indicators of a Harris or Trump administration. Russell says history could be made in this Congressional election but control of the House of Representatives may not be known for several days after Nov. 5. Disaster assistance will likely be on the Lame Duck agenda and perhaps an economic assistance package for farmers, however, Russell says a new five year farm bill will likely be added to an already stacked legislative agenda in 2025.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company. With over 45 years of experience in the global grain market, Basse has seen cyclical swings in commodity prices and farm income many times before. Unlike years gone by, the United States farmer is no longer the primary supplier of grains to the international market and is politically and financially being squeezed out of what were once promising markets. Basse says price is no longer the primary driver of export sales and future administrations may be forced to use strong trade policy to open doors for farmers. Basse says the renewable fuels industry as well as airlines need regulatory certainty to secure their share of a promising demand base for their crops.
This week’s Open Mic guest is former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson. The Minnesota Democrat is concerned how misinformation in the campaign for the White House is impacting voters across the nation. Peterson believes there’s still time for the Congress to approve a new farm bill, but admits the results of the election could determine the political will for approving new policy. Peterson says the respective agriculture committee’s can approve final language of the bill, but will need the leaders of Congress to approve additional funds to pay for needed updates in both farm and nutrition programs.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. Most in the ag industry were relieved that dockworkers were back on the job following an agreement on wages that allowed East Coast and Gulf ports to reopen last week. Seyfert says container shipments are an integral factor in meeting global customers demands for a number of U.S. agricultural products. Prior to his tenure at NGFA, Seyfert had an extensive career on Capitol Hill. He recognizes the challenges of seeing a farm bill approved by the end of the year, but says the industry needs new policy now.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Representative Mark Alford. The Missouri Republican joins the chorus of other farm state representatives calling for a new farm bill this year. Alford supports the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill with updated reference prices and improved SNAP benefits. He believes the EPA is overstepping its authority on tail pipe emission standards and regulation of crop pesticides. Alford says conflict in the Black Sea and Middle East could have extreme consequences on the U.S. economy and American people.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. He says the ag economic climate is burdening farmers with high input costs and lower crop commodity prices and some may have difficulty obtaining financing next year. Larew talks about the importance of passing a new farm bill, expanding exports and securing an adequate workforce in county FSA offices.
This week’s Open Mic guest is South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson. Last week hundreds of farmers were in Washington calling on legislators to press forward to approve a new farm bill. Johnson says deadlines drive achievement in Congress and the challenges farmers shared with their elected leaders was more than enough to try and beat the political odds to deliver new risk management tools and nutrition programs. Johnson shares concerns about farmer use of Chinese drone technology. He is critical of the Biden administration’s immigration policy saying rules are too stringent to legally enter the country and too easy to enter illegally.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Alex Dunn, President and CEO of CropLife America. Dunn joined CLA in March of this year and brings an extensive career in environmental and regulatory leadership to the association, including her previous service as Assistant Administrator for the EPA office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Dunn and her team are intently monitoring the EPA’s process of developing strategies for pesticides as they relate to endangered species and trying to educate stakeholders about many facets of the industry. She says CLA members are concerned about EPA staffing shortages and discusses the headwinds facing new and existing products from the crop protection industry.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Ben Alfi, Founder and CEO of Bluewhite. Alfi spent over 25 years in the Israeli Air Force as a combat pilot and as Head of Unmanned Systems Research and Development programs. He leveraged his experience to form the autonomous technology company in 2017. Bluewhite provides add on autonomous capabilities for tractors primarily in the specialty crop space of agriculture production. Alfi says the company’s mission is to build resiliency in farming operations by maximizing a grower’s productivity and minimizing production costs. Alfi believes his technology is an answer to the labor shortage hampering today’s farming operations.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers. Consumers are showing an increased demand for fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets, but U.S. growers of these crops are facing increased headwinds from a reduced water supply, increased input costs, a shortage of farm workers and increasing state and federal regulations. Puglia says their members are looking for biological solutions to replace traditional synthetic crop protection products and robotics to offset an aging and reduced workforce. He also discusses the consequences of organic production mandates, a forced transition to electric trucks and forklifts and a potential extension of the 2018 farm bill.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mark Eisele, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The Wyoming rancher says even though profits are now better for cattlemen than row crop producers, they still need a new farm bill to ensure herd safety and provide opportunities to maintain and grow global markets. Sustainability is important and Eisele discusses how cattlemen are working to produce safe, high quality protein with an even smaller environmental footprint. He also discusses the legal challenges one South Dakota rancher is facing with USDA's Forest Service.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. The renewable fuels industry has clawed its way into a significant portion of the liquid fuels industry. Potential growth for both refiners and farmers hinges on regulatory decisions by government agencies and litigation in the court system. Skor says the Treasury Department’s decision on what sustainable agriculture practices will be required for the pending 45Z rule is critical for the industry’s future and if the Biden administration’s climate goals will ultimately be met.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Brent Boydson, Immediate Past Chairman of the U.S. Grains Council. While there are immense headwinds to maintaining and growing markets for U.S.corn, sorghum and barley, Boydson believes emerging markets in Africa and India will provide tremendous growth opportunities for US farmers. He says U.S. efforts to verify sustainable ag practices, as well as the continued reliability and quality of products and increasing demand for more meat and protein, will open new markets.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Cathy Burns, President and CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association. From a statistical perspective, the produce industry has tremendous potential for growth with only a small fraction of Americans consuming the daily recommended allowance of fruits and vegetables. Burns says domestically, the produce industry faces tremendous challenges from high input costs, a lack of an adequate labor force and uncertainty over a new farm bill from Washington. She says the obstacles are limiting opportunities for growth and IFPA needs Congressional leaders to help.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. The profit pendulum has swung deeply into the red for U.S. cotton farmers. Adams says many producers faced challenges finding operating loans this year and may be left wanting without a new farm bill that reflects the current economic climate. He also discusses the impact of the Supreme Court's Chevron decision and potential concerns about international trade.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute. Fresh off a meeting of the International Fertilizer Association, Rosenbusch offers troubling news on how Houthi rebels are impacting fertilizer shipping channels and how Vladimir Putin is conspiring to control fertilizer supplies and ultimately global food security. At home, Rosenbusch says TFI members share the call of commodity organizations to Washington to deliver a new farm bill. Rosenbusch hopes the Treasury Department can deliver clear nutrient guidance in the new IRA 45Z rules.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Donnell Rehagen, CEO of Clean Fuels Alliance America. With an expanded mission of increased renewable fuels types and feedstocks, CFAA hopes to see expanded growth of renewable liquid fuels in the near future. Rehagen sees the industry’s potential beyond the 4.6 billion gallon industry as it stands today with growth in industrial, transportation and sustainable aviation fuel, but feedstock availability and government regulations have proven formidable headwinds for industry growth. CFAA applauds Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s call for information to develop sustainable agriculture practices to help qualify crops as feedstocks for the Treasury Department's 45Z rules and tax credits.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Andy Harig, Vice President of Tax, Trade, Sustainability and Policy Development for FMI-The Food Industry Association. Consumers and the food industry have been forced to adapt to the Covid Pandemic as well as higher food costs from inflation. Harig says the market’s philosophy has shifted from a “just in time” to a “just in case” mentality. He says the food industry is adapting to consumers who spend less time preparing meals and are more sensitive to the sustainability of the food supply. Harig says FMI members want a new farm bill for nutrition as well as security of the domestic food supply.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Steve Nicholson, Global Sector Strategist for Grains and Oilseeds with Rabobank. In this interview, Nicholson discusses the mixed signals the Federal Reserve is sifting through as it continues to battle inflation. While there improvements in the economy, Nicholson says higher rates impact capital intensive businesses like transportation and agriculture. He says farmers need clear answers on risk management tools a new farm bill should provide.
This weeks Open Mic Guest is Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. The H5N1 virus in dairy cattle has presented yet another challenge for the dairy industry. Doud says extensive testing by FDA confirms the pasteurization process is effective in keeping milk and dairy products safe for consumers. Doud says USDA now believes the disease is being spread between dairy farms by mechanical means. The industry is monitoring existing protocols and closing gaps that may have led to the disease spread to a number of dairy states in the nation. Doud also comments on Federal Milk Marketing Order reform and a USDA proposal that will be released soon, and he also talks about the House Ag Committee’s farm bill proposal.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Halstrom, President and CEO of the US Meat Export Federation. While the USDA is forecasting an even larger agriculture trade deficit this year, meat export sales are an exception to the rule. Halstrom says despite a strong dollar pork exports are up in both volume and value. Despite shorter beef supplies, Halstrom says global demand is still robust. Red meat export sales are providing a positive return on investment in federal promotion dollars but Halstrom says there are headwinds the industry still must overcome.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers. He has served in the halls of Congress and for the nation’s crop farmers over his extensive career in Washington. Goule says failure to enact a new farm bill will only heap greater challenges on policy writers in 2025 and leave farmers with a policy that does not accurately reflect the financial risks producers face. Goule says the nation is losing wheat acres and growers to other crops that benefit from both advanced genetics and demand from new uses. NAWG supports crops for renewable fuels, but says unintended consequences from trade, farm policy and research could lead to dire and unintended consequences for the nation’s number one food grain and its growers.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. A veteran of 9 farm bills, Conner's been on the markup side of policy on the Hill and the implementation side at USDA. Conner notes most of the bill’s debate on the House Ag Committee was more about nutrition programs than the farm safety net, but real differences remain between key players and should be worked out as the bill advances. He also discusses actions to address California's Prop. 12 and the adverse impacts on those least able to afford higher food prices.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The nation’s rural cooperatives are being pushed to increase base load capacity to meet growing demand from businesses and computer storage facilities. But at the same time, new emission standards by the Environmental Protection Agency threaten the existence of generating plants providing electric service to more than 42 million Americans in 48 states. Matheson says as much as 80% of the power used by cooperatives comes from fossil fuels, including both natural gas and coal, and NRECA is pursuing litigation to stay and overturn the EPA’s new rules.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Kailee Tkacz Buller, President and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association. The nation’s oilseed processing industry has rapidly been expanding capacity to meet growing demand for their products. Many new plants have been built, others are under construction and additional processing capacity could be added pending public policy decisions. Buller says renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel hold tremendous opportunities for further oilseed industry expansion. Buller hopes 40Z tax credit rules will include more acceptable climate smart production practices and less bundling. NOPA opposes policies that place caps on vegetable oil capacity and encourage imports of used cooking oil from foreign countries.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Bill Hurley, Vice President of Global Government Affairs for AGCO Corporation and Chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Agriculture Sector Board. This week “A Celebration of Modern Agriculture” returns to the National Mall in Washington D.C. The event features a display of the technology in farm machinery that’s helping to feed and fuel a growing global population. Exhibiting companies will share how advanced technology is helping farmers not only increase production but also protect the environment with improved sustainability. Hurley says technology enables farmers to apply precision practices to individual plants in a field.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor and air quality specialist at UC Davis who also leads the CLEAR Center, concentrating on research and communications. He has been helping the global community better understand the positive impact of livestock on marginal farmlands and opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of dairy digestors and feed additives. Mitloehner wants people to make informed decisions about the foods we eat, while reducing environmental impacts.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Beth Ellikidis, Vice President, Agriculture and Environment for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The Biden administration recently announced its Bioeconomy Board, creating new products and services to boost the U.S. economy and workforce and enhance our quality of life and the environment. Ellikidis says BIO’s goal is simply to advocate for the possible. She sees products that will improve agriculture productivity while at the same time lessen the industry’s environmental footprint. Ellikidis says the nation’s regulatory structure is strained to keep up with scientific advancements provided by fast-moving private industry research.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Barbara O’Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Incorporated. O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience working for dairy farmers and in the dairy industry. Through challenges of the cyclical nature of the industry as well as the pandemic and shifting consumer trends, the industry is holding it’s own with consumers and developing partnerships with the food industry that’s expanding the positive message of milk and other dairy products. O’Brien addresses the effort the dairy industry has put forward toward good nutrition, sustainable production and overall product safety.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Michael AuBuchon, Managing Director of Fuel Strategies and Management for Southwest Airlines Company. Farmers and the renewable fuel industry are eagerly anticipating the exponential growth potential of satisfying demand from the airline industry for sustainable aviation fuel. AuBuchon reports a significant investment from Southwest Airlines Company for the development and production of SAF from renewable ethanol. Southwest has targeted goals toward ramping up production of cleaner burning fuel to help meet their climate goals by 2030 and beyond. AuBuchon says decisions over the amended GREET model and pending tax advantages from the Inflation Reduction Act as well as other state government incentives will play a vital role in meeting their demand for millions of gallons of cleaner burning fuel for their planes.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dr. Georgia Machell, Interim President and CEO of the National WIC Association. The WIC program is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The program finds itself a beneficiary of additional financial resources but also in need of legislation to extend coverage to a growing population in need. Machell says barely half of those who qualify for services actually are receiving benefits. The Modern WIC Act would provide additional funds, but political gridlock in Washington over nutrition spending doesn’t provide much hope for a quick resolution. Machell says WIC administrators are working to address program diversity issues.
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Agriculture was once a strong contributor to a positive trade balance, but is forecast to be in deficit this year. Ernst faults the Biden administration’s lack of effort in securing global trade deals for U.S. farmers. The Iowa Republican sees little chance for a farm bill this calendar year but hopes for better chances in 2025. Ernst also discusses results of a GAO report indicating the majority of USDA employees have not returned to work in their Washington, D.C. offices.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Julie Anna Potts, CEO of the Meat Institute. A new logo and brand identity of the group formerly known as the North American Meat Institute is being celebrated this week at the Annual Meat Conference in Nashville. The group’s purpose is summarized to highlight both nourishment and sustainability. In this interview, Potts discusses the group’s mission, efforts toward sustainability, the Biden administration’s amendments to the Packers and Stockyards Act, the new voluntary Product of the USA meat labels, Proposition 12 and the ill effects of the smallest cattle inventory since the 1950’s.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Doug McKalip, chief agriculture negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The nation’s producers reaped the benefits of shorter supplies of global agriculture products over the past few years, but a stronger dollar and an increase in supply have brought headwinds to international trade. USDA's most recent ag forecast suggests a trade deficit for U.S. agriculture, and there hasn’t been an announcement of a new trade deal in some time, and the Biden administration has concentrated on reducing tariffs as a means of improving ag trade. McKalip says the U.S. won’t give in to Mexico’s challenge of genetically modified crops and is contemplating its next move in trade relations with Canada over dairy policy.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Marcia Bunger, administrator of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency. The crop insurance program is listed by many farm groups as the industry's most significant risk management tool, and participation has grown in both acres covered and products offered by the agency. The program price tag has increased due to participation and as well by devastating natural disasters across the country. Policies for dairy, specialty crops, and double-crop acres have brought more farmers to the table. Bunger says risk management tools are essential for farmers seeking loans to plant crops or expand their operations.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Steve Reinhard, chairman of the United Soybean Board. The Ohio farmer leads the 77-member group that determines where checkoff dollars will be utilized to grow the industry and create opportunities for soybean farmers. Reinhard sees a paradigm shift in demand for soybean oil which should lead to increased domestic crush and more competitive meal prices for exports and the domestic livestock sector. While functioning in the shadow of Brazilian soybean production and export volume, Reinhard says the U.S. commitment to sustainability and overall product quality will keep it viable globally. Reinhard says soy biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel hold tremendous opportunities for the soybean industry.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Lori Taylor, founder and CEO of The Produce Moms. While working as a sales marketing professional in the produce industry, Taylor recognized the need of Millennial moms and others for a reliable and comprehensive online destination for facts and information to meet the challenge of improving diets with fruits and vegetables. The “community” as she describes the site provides nutritional information on fruits and vegetables, offers recipes and even brand name information. Taylor strongly supports the nation’s nutrition programs and believes in the partnership of medicine and food for better health.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Tom Buis, CEO of the American Carbon Alliance. Buis has a long history of service to the agriculture industry. He’s been a farmer, worked in Congress, served a farm organization and the renewable fuel industry. He’s emerged from retirement to promote the renewable fuel industry’s need to lower its carbon score with pipelines. Buis says the nation needs multiple sources of energy and should allow ethanol producers to capture carbon and safely store it in qualified geological areas of the nation. Buis sees tremendous opportunity for farmers and rural America if ethanol can be a feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Without an improved carbon credit score, Buis says farmers, the environment and the economy will suffer.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. Metz says producers have met and exceeded retail demand for “cage-free” eggs but are anxious to learn what demand issues may be revealed for future production. Metz says the egg industry is closely watching discussion from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee as they prepare to offer recommendations next year and FDA efforts to define healthy foods and set parameters on front of package labeling.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla. On the sidelines of last week’s American Farm Bureau convention in Salt Lake City, Lucas lamented the political headwinds of writing new farm and food policy. Lucas said the nation’s spending plan is most challenging and provides inadequate resources for the hungry and producers facing a challenging economic climate. Lucas says more funds are needed and believes reallocating previously approved dollars is the best financial solution. Without those resources, Lucas would favor another extension of the 2018 farm bill to give more time for Congress to allocate resources. Lucas is keen on a pending SCOTUS decision on regulatory deference and wants an “all of the above” approach to the nation’s energy policy.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. While legislators have agreed on a new short-term spending plan to avoid a shutdown, final work on the nation’s purse strings for FY24 remains in the balance. Hoeven believes there’s still time to approve a new farm bill this year, but says there needs to be more “farm in the farm bill,” saying the farm safety net should share in spending increases being proposed for nutrition. Hoeven believes conservation funds approved in the Inflation Reduction Act should be used to upgrade the farm safety net and is cautious of using CCC funds to support reference prices.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. The Iowa caucuses once again provide the opportunity to press the merits of the renewable fuels industry on those hopeful to gain the White House in November. Cooper believes his industry isn’t seeing a balanced regulatory approach from the Biden administration. On the regulatory front, RFA is watching for amendments to modeling that will determine Inflation Reduction Act tax credit eligibility and staunchly disagrees with proposed EPA tailpipe emission standards. Cooper says sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to revolutionize the renewable fuels industry, but not without resolving pipeline issues in several states.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council. The potato industry is worth billions to the nation’s economy but is facing strong headwinds from regulatory issues, farm policy and global trade access. The group’s annual Potato Expo is expected to see record attendance this week in Austin, Texas including a presentation by USTR Chief Ag Negotiator Doug McKalip. Quarles says the industry is caught up in debate over the potato’s place in nutritional guidelines for adults and children.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association. ASA was among the chorus of agriculture groups pleased to see an extension of the 2018 farm bill as time ran out to produce a new bill in 2023, and Censky hopes congressional leaders can make progress early in 2024 on new policy. He says soybean growers want higher reference prices and a voluntary update for base acres in a new bill. Censky has worries about the EPA’s implementation of Endangered Species Act regulations on pesticides and is very encouraged about the benefits of renewable fuels for the soybean industry.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. The story of hunger and food insecurity continues to grow in the U.S. and around the world. Feeding America is a national food bank serving millions of hungry Americans. The number of food-insecure adults and children swelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but recent data from the USDA suggests millions more don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Babineaux-Fontenot supports change in nutrition programs to better assist individuals in enjoying nutrient-dense foods and getting back on their feet.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Mississippi Republican stands firm on protecting farmers in her Delta state. She recognizes the financial challenges of writing a new farm bill and believes funding in the Inflation Reduction Act would be better served by bolstering the overall safety net for farmers than existing conservation programs. Hyde-Smith discounts the idea of an Adjusted Gross Income means test for farmers in the crop insurance program andjoins a long list of agriculture groups and other legislators who disagree with the USDA’s administration of ERP funds. Hyde-Smith says livestock farmers need relief from losses caused by predatory animals.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Dairy farmers and processors are frustrated with a recent trade ruling favoring Canada’s import restrictions on U.S. dairy products. Harden says the industry isn’t finished with the issue and is surveying options in the matter. Harden says the volume and value of dairy exports for 2023 will be short of the record marks set last year. In the upcoming farm bill, Harden says the industry hopes for continued support for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development funding.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Todd Van Hoose, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council. Van Hoose is grateful Washington delivered an extension of the 2018 farm bill but joins a chorus of other agriculture organizations calling for new policy to be approved in early 2024. He says USDA loan programs and limits should be adjusted to reflect higher operating costs in today’s agriculture economy. The Council has mounted a challenge against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over language requiring the collection of data that Farm Credit says is already available through the Ag Census. Van Hoose discusses the need for base acre and reference price adjustments as well as needed assistance for young and beginning farmers.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Terry Cosby, chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. After more than 40 years of working with landowners across the country, Cosby has seen a number of policy changes toward preserving the environment and improving soil health. Cosby says he is invigorated to see an emphasis on sustainability in modern agriculture practices and is grateful to have additional funds under the Inflation Reduction Act to serve more applicants for essential programs nationwide. Cosby says conservation policy can never be “one size fits all” but endeavors to employ the best conservation practices on every acre in the nation and ensure that his agency is mindful of diversity, equity and inclusion.
This week’s Open Mic guest is EPA Agriculture Advisor, Rod Snyder. The Environmental Protection Agency often finds itself in the middle of converging opinions on pesticides, fuel and clean water issues. With 20 years of experience working for farm groups, farm associations and the chemical industry, Snyder is often the practical voice of reason at the agency’s decision making process. Snyder says flat budgets and a smaller staff make it difficult for the agency to accomplish its heavy work load. On crop protection products, Snyder stands by the work of EPA scientists and the safety protocols they employ. Snyder says his door is open to the agriculture community to voice their support and concerns.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Duvall is aware of the limited opportunity the congressional calendar affords for farm policy discussion on Capitol Hill, but that’s not keeping him and other farmers from pressing elected leaders for a new farm bill. The Georgia farmer says AFBF members support risk management tools that reflect the price structure of today’s farm economy and support effective nutrition programs for those in need. Duvall says the organization's resolutions process is underway for the policy delegates will consider at their annual meeting in January in Salt Lake City. In this interview, Duvall discusses expanding crop insurance, the farm labor workforce, energy and trade policy and ongoing negotiations with the EPA over the new Waters of the U.S. definition.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Congressman Jim Costa. The California Democrat represents the agriculture rich 21st district of the state. Costa is hopeful new leadership in the House will lead to compromise on fiscal and agriculture policy. Costa shares concerns about the “pay fors” needed for a new farm bill but says minority members on the Agriculture committee will not support cuts to either nutrition programs or IRA conservation funds. Costa says he would support an extension of the 2018 farm bill, but says legislators should forge ahead with a new farm bill as soon as possible.
