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 o...
Apr 17, 2016
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...
Apr 10, 2016
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 act...
Apr 03, 2016
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 be...
Mar 27, 2016
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 commitme...
Mar 20, 2016
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, Presi...
Mar 13, 2016
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 ...
Mar 06, 2016
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...
Feb 28, 2016
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 ...
Feb 21, 2016
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 ...
Feb 14, 2016
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 ...
Feb 07, 2016
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 ...
Jan 31, 2016
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 tast...
Jan 24, 2016
This week’s interview features Ambassador Darci Vetter, Chief Agriculture Negotiator with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Ambassador Vetter expects a positive year for global trade with the anticipated congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPA) agreement and conclusion of the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks. Vetter responds to speculation of a potential challenge of U.S. policy for soybean risk protection and possible trade reac...
Jan 17, 2016
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 conce...
Jan 10, 2016
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, compr...
Jan 03, 2016
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...
Dec 27, 2015
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 ener...
Dec 20, 2015
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 Partne...
Dec 13, 2015
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 effic...
Dec 06, 2015
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 Washin...
Nov 29, 2015
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 ...
Nov 15, 2015
Our guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan. In this week’s interview, the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee discusses further action on the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. definition and says his committee is close to a compromise on a child nutrition bill. Roberts expects further attacks on the crop insurance industry and says he and other congressional farm state leaders are ready to defend farmers’ top policy priorities. Roberts says with the text of the Trans-Pacific Partne...
Nov 08, 2015
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 labelin...
Nov 01, 2015
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,J...
Oct 25, 2015
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 ...
Oct 18, 2015
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 conserva...
Oct 11, 2015
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...
Oct 04, 2015
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 ...
Sep 27, 2015
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” combin...
Sep 20, 2015
