This week’s Open Mic guest is Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The beef producers have seen their fair share of adversity from the COVID-19 pandemic, but have also seen a resurgence in consumer demand with more meals consumed at home. In this interview, Woodall discusses opportunities for direct marketing to consumers and the need for additional regional processing facilities. Woodall speaks to NCBA’s efforts to increase price discovery in the auction market and a...
Nov 22, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va. After gaining another term to represent her state’s 7th district, Spanberger is ready to begin work on developing agriculture’s role in combatting climate change. Spanberger says the base of a green economy should give farmers a seat at the table when discussing national issues like health care, rural broadband and developing innovative policies to sequester carbon and promote rural economic growth. She supports investment in the natio...
Nov 15, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation. As an umbrella trade organization representing the sum of the rice industry, Ward speaks to the opportunities and challenges seen in global and domestic markets as well as the impact of the COVID pandemic on consumers around the world. Trade barriers have been an obstacle to the bottom line of U.S. rice producers, but recent trade agreements are bringing new opportunities for her members. Ward says government...
Nov 08, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. In a conversation just days before the election, Administrator Wheeler discussed the agency’s recent decision to extend the registration of certain dicamba products and amendments to the exclusion zones for ground and aerial pesticide application. Administrator Wheeler discusses the judicial challenges that threaten EPA jurisdiction of various chemistries as well as the request for information surrounding the agency’s decisions to g...
Nov 01, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Collins, CEO of Corteva Agriscience, who describes his company as a “startup with a rich history.” In this interview, Collins discusses the challenges of meeting global demand for food, fiber and fuel and the opportunities of a new production paradigm rewarding farmers for sustainability goals as well as the crops they produce. Collins says Corteva is rapidly developing new crop protection products to replace older chemistries that meet both producer needs and c...
Oct 25, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. While the global food distribution system may have been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Halstrom says consumer demand for U.S. beef, pork and lamb continues to grow. USDA data suggests strong demand for red meat thanks to recent trade agreements giving U.S. producers a more level playing field to compete in global market. Halstrom expects recovery from the pandemic in certain countries as well as ...
Oct 18, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is John Piotti, president and CEO of the American Farmland Trust. In this week’s conversation, Piotti expands on the group’s mission to preserve valuable farmland and to expand opportunities for farmers to use their land as a carbon sink to battle climate change as well as produce food for a growing planet. Piotti sees support from private industry as well as government policy to reward farmers for agronomic practices that sequester carbon in the soil and improves soil...
Oct 11, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol. The renewable fuels industry struggled from a number of significant challenges leading up to this year, highlighted by reduced volume demand by the EPA’s Small Refinery Exemptions. Jennings says 2020 has brought even more financial hardship including reduced fuel demand from COVID, a crude oil price war and lost export market opportunities. While many farmers and industries have seen financial support from W...
Oct 04, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jen Sorenson, president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic proved to be the latest challenge to the nation’s swine industry. Following a period of lost global markets due to trade conflicts, Sorenson says producers' profit hopes were crushed under the weight of lost domestic markets and reduced processing capacity because of COVID. While direct payments and other government assistance programs have helped, the Iowa hog farmer sa...
Sep 27, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mark Stewart, President and CEO of Agriculture Future of America. Following the vision of the Kemper Family of Kansas City, an agriculture youth development organization was born in 1996 to help in the evolution of future ag leaders and to support their spirit of entrepreneurship. Today, Stewart says that same vision has expanded to over 200 college campuses and 150 different agriculture majors. As the group celebrates 24 years, it plans to continue working on devel...
Sep 20, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The Minnesota Democrat may have failed in her attempt for the Oval Office but remains a staunch supporter of agriculture and rural America. In this interview, Klobuchar offers thoughts on the nation’s economy and what’s essential in any new COVID relief measure including support for farmers and small businesses as well as state and local governments. Klobuchar speaks to challenges remaining with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the biofuel indus...
Sep 13, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo. A year ago, Missouri’s 4th District struggled with massive flooding and now is mired in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other rural communities in the nation, Hartzler says nearly every facet of their economy has been beset with adversity from the virus. Hartzler supports another round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program support for farmers and ranchers and has appealed to USDA officials to assist commodities that she feels we...
Sep 06, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. Many believe consumers have a new appreciation for farmers and the overall food supply chain following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world hopes science delivers an answer to the disease, some of those same consumers push back against new seed innovation that can lead to a more secure food supply. In this interview, LaVigne discusses challenges the industry faces with new trade agreements and...
Aug 30, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Tom Stenzel, President and CEO at United Fresh Produce Association. Specialty crop growers have faced a number of challenges in adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stenzel says his members are hopeful for financial assistance but also liability protection from a new relief package from Washington. A disruption of the traditional supply chain is just one of many obstacles his growers face on top of a shortage of farm workers and dwindling water supplies. United Fresh ...
Aug 23, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is California’s 20th District Representative Jimmy Panetta. Central Valley farmers have suffered the ill effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and he supports recent amendments to the CFAP program and extended signup dates. In this interview, Panetta discusses the ongoing challenge of protecting farmworkers in the state and the need for additional federal assistance for PPE, housing and additional testing. Panetta cites the increased strain on food banks as a reason to supp...
Aug 16, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sarah Frey, President and CEO of Frey Farms. As this year’s winner of the Woman in Produce Award from the United Fresh Produce Association, Frey is a shining example of a true entrepreneur who saved the family farm and grew a business that encompasses a variety of specialty crops grown in multiple states. In this interview, Frey offers her thoughts on the challenges of seeing ag labor reform in Washington, the shortfalls of the recently enacted USMCA, and how the CO...
Aug 09, 2020
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes. The nearly century-old company has recently formed a multi-year partnership with Microsoft and has helped to form a new coalition to lobby Washington for increased access to broadband in rural communities. Recognizing a lack of healthcare in rural communities and a lack of investment in technology for schools, Ford says the digital divide isn’t a rural issue, it is an American issue. Ford says Land O’ Lakes is working to...
Aug 02, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dr. Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. A trade dispute with China and the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought tremendous economic disparity on not only cotton farmers, but the sum of their supporting industry. The closing of retail outlets has plummeted consumer clothing purchases. With all eyes on the next round of financial aid, Adams says federal support is key to helping the industry survive until market demand is restored. Adams says susta...
Jul 26, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dr. Barbara Glenn, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. State ag leaders have renewed their call for federal assistance to respond to the needs of farmers, ranchers and rural communities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group is also calling for expanded rural broadband coverage, the expansion of domestic and global markets and worker protection standards. She reports on efforts to expand meat processing and discusses the op...
Jul 19, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mike Frank, executive vice president and CEO of retail at Nutrien. In the midst of a challenging ag economy, Nutrien continues to expand retail outlets and acquire companies while expanding products and services for their customers. Frank says the company’s growth is founded on finding agronomic and financial solutions for its customers. He believes revenue from carbon sequestration will soon find its way to the farm gate. As a company, Frank says they share common ...
Jul 12, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. The COVID-19 pandemic is just the latest in economic challenges for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Duvall offers his gratitude for administrative and legislative assistance for agriculture but shares that the economic threat to the nation’s food supply is far from over. He offers thoughts for additional assistance as the U.S. Senate prepares to consider another round of financial assistance for the ...
Jul 05, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Michigan’s U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. The Senate Ag Ranking Member is leading efforts to improve the environment and create a new revenue stream for farmers and foresters. The Growing Climate Solutions Act has bipartisan support and will see companion legislation soon in the House. Stabenow sees the need for additional farm revenue assistance and says nutrition assistance must be included in a new relief plan as well as support for rural communities. With the Fal...
Jun 28, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Representative Jim Costa. The California Democrat was pleased with last week’s Supreme Court DACA ruling and says it’s time for the Senate to take up the Farm Worker Modernization Act to ensure an adequate workforce for the nation’s food supply chain. The 16th district representative supports federal financial assistance for agriculture and says the industry should not be forced to wait for further revenue assistance. Costa shares concerns about farms and commoditie...
Jun 21, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Representative Rick Crawford. The Arkansas 1st District Republican serves on the House Agriculture Committee as well as the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In this interview, he shares concerns over the U.S. trade relationship with China, COVID-19 impacts on the food supply chain and federal assistance to farmers. Crawford also offers his evaluation of the nation’s transportation infrastructure and the need ...
Jun 14, 2020
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Rep. Chellie Pingree. As a member of the House Committees on Agriculture and Appropriations, the Maine Democrat has played an integral role in Washington’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, Pingree discusses policy that has been effective and response efforts that need to be amended to include more people from all regions of the country. Pingree believes agriculture has an important role to play in the nation’s response to climate change and that...
Jun 07, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. The COVID-19 pandemic has painfully exposed the “Rural Divide” between those who enjoy adequate internet service and those who suffer from a lack of connectivity. In recent testimony before Congress, Bloomfield advocated for developing a national infrastructure to meet the needs of the day and capturing opportunities of tomorrow. Bloomfield says it is important for government agencies to coordinate eff...
May 31, 2020
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. Few events in history have been as challenging as the COVID-19 pandemic. Agriculture makes up one-fourth of Arkansas’ GDP and has hit the state’s rural economy especially hard. As a member of both the Agriculture and Appropriations Committees in the Senate, Boozman approves of additional funds to support the industry but is keeping an eye on the additional financial burden. He supports the Agriculture Department and Secretary Sonny Perdue’s...
May 24, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Even before the bulk of the CARES Act funding is distributed to farmers and the ag industry, the House of Representatives, on a party-line vote, approved another $3-trillion in economic stimulus funds. Hoeven believes his chamber will consider additional stimulus legislation, but not until the results of the Phase 3 plan are realized. Hoeven says liability protection is a top priority for the GOP, and he’s willing to consider raising the ann...
May 17, 2020
This week’s Open Mic guest is Polly Ruhland, CEO of the United Soybean Board. Soybean farmers have been hit hard by lost global market share and increased competition from crops in the Southern Hemisphere. Now, the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing the outlook for many farmers further into red ink for 2020. Ruhland says the soybean checkoff is on task and identifying areas of economic growth for nearly every aspect of the soybean industry; asphalt, motor oil and even shoe soles show tre...
May 10, 2020
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations. In this interview, Aderholt discusses the timing of the next round of legislation to support agriculture and the economy during the COVID-19 crisis and potential impacts on the next farm bill. Aderholt says the nation’s debt is an issue when considering an infrastructure bill but believes expanded broadband service to rural areas can no longer be ignored.
May 03, 2020
