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 proto...
Jan 07, 2018
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 Congres...
Dec 31, 2017
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ambassador Darci Vetter, former Chief Agricultural Negotiator and current diplomat in residence at the University of Nebraska. Ambassador Vetter recently joined the Farmers for Free Trade coalition as an advisor to the board. In this week’s interview the Ambassador embellishes on the challenges of discussing trade agreements and the need for farmers and the agriculture industry to bring clarity to the opportunities and implications of trade deals. Ambassador Vett...
Dec 24, 2017
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.
Dec 17, 2017
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 aga...
Dec 10, 2017
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...
Dec 03, 2017
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 ind...
Nov 26, 2017
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 ...
Nov 19, 2017
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.
Nov 12, 2017
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator Joni Ernst. The Iowa Republican was among a group of farm state legislators who held the Trump administration accountable to their commitment to support for the Renewable Fuel Standard. In this interview, Senator Ernst discusses possible concessions for the oil industry. Ernst and other leaders are keeping a watchful eye on the trade front as well as tax reform debate in the House. Senator Ernst outlines proposals she’s offered on conservation and ri...
Nov 05, 2017
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.
Oct 29, 2017
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.
Oct 22, 2017
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...
Oct 15, 2017
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 ...
Oct 08, 2017
This week’s guest on Open Mic is American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. As the leader of the nation’s largest general farm organization, the Georgia farmer continues to call for one voice from agriculture on Capitol Hill. In this interview, Duvall speaks to funding for the new farm bill as well as pending action on immigration reform and new tax laws for individuals and corporations, the Renewable Fuel Standard and the industry’s reliance on open trade policy.
Oct 01, 2017
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 far...
Sep 24, 2017
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...
Sep 17, 2017
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 far...
Sep 10, 2017
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 a...
Sep 03, 2017
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...
Aug 27, 2017
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 o...
Aug 20, 2017
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 as...
Aug 13, 2017
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...
Aug 06, 2017
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 protec...
Jul 30, 2017
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 li...
Jul 23, 2017
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.
Jul 16, 2017
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 s...
Jul 09, 2017
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.
Jul 02, 2017
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 p...
Jun 25, 2017
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.
Jun 18, 2017
