This week’s Open Mic guest is Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Harden began her tenure as leader of the group last year and is the third president of USDEC since it was formed in 1995 by Dairy Management Incorporated. Competition in global dairy trade is fierce, but Harden says U.S. farmers who produce high-quality products and ingredients are gaining global market share. She says shipping woes plague dairy exports and threaten to have a lasting impact on global...
Jan 16, 2022•23 min
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Wheat growers face unique obstacles in Washington to maintain policy supporting the various regions and classes of the food grain crop in the nation. Goule believes the Build Back Better Act may still see compromise and approval on Capitol Hill and says wheat growers face challenges with potential cover crop policies and other climate measures. Wheat growers support free trade and look to the Biden ad...
Jan 09, 2022•24 min
This week’s Open Mic guest is American Soybean Association President Brad Doyle, who says the availability of crop protection products and fertilizer is providing a challenging start to the 2022 crop year. The Arkansas farmer is encouraged to see discussion on a new farm bill beginning in Washington and is mindful of the political will to develop climate-smart policy. Doyle says soybean farmers have voluntarily adopted conservation practices on millions of acres and are counting on Congress to k...
Jan 02, 2022•22 min
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company. Commodity and financial markets have been tossed on the waves of COVID-19 and its variants. For 2022, Basse hopes to see a deceleration of cases and more stability in markets. He says inflation is an issue but the bigger story in agriculture is that of demand. The globe’s thirst for food, feed and renewable energy is driving an appetite for commodities that will challenge the production capacity of the planet’s farmers and...
Dec 26, 2021•22 min
This week’s Open Mic guest is Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. Consumer demand for almonds domestically and globally provides an excellent outlook for The Golden State’s top crop, but regulatory challenges from global customers and state agencies as well as the available supply of water and labor cloud opportunities for growth. Waycott says the almond industry has set lofty sustainability goals including a continued reduction in water needed to maintain trees...
Dec 19, 2021•22 min
This week’s Open Mic guest is Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council. After a 40-year career serving agriculture with the last 20 years as the lead of the nation’s pork producers, Dierks is retiring back to the farm. He says the organization is strong in standing up for swine producers on Capitol Hill regarding environmental issues, science-based regulations and more access to international markets. Dierks says pork producers have worked toward sustainability and productivity go...
Dec 12, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Corey Rosenbush, president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute. Few questions loom larger than the price and availability of nutrients for the 2022 crop year. In this interview, Rosenbush shares the global storm of circumstances that have brought tight supplies and high prices for U.S. farmers. Issues of trade, tariffs, energy prices, transportation costs and weather events mark a long list of market dynamics that ultimately may influence farmer planting decisions f...
Dec 05, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jon Doggett, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. The nation’s corn farmers have concerns about supply chain issues and the availability of fertilizer and crop protection products for the 2022 crop season. Doggett says it's important for farmer voices to be heard on fertilizer tariffs that limit supply and EPA protocols when considering the environmental impact on endangered species. Doggett says farmers and rural investors have fulfilled their obligation t...
Nov 28, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Brad Nordholm, president and CEO of Farmer Mac. Farmland values have seen a tremendous appreciation over the past several months despite questions over the outlook for commodity prices and current inflationary pressures. In this interview, Nordholm discusses the similarities and differences between the farm economy of the 1980s and today. Nordholm applauds congressional approval of the infrastructure bill and questions if carbon capture will prove a meaningful sourc...
Nov 21, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The 900 consumer-owned coops in the nation are generally on solid footing and able to meet the needs of rural communities in the 47 states they serve. However, meeting the need for additional power demands will mean a significant investment in securing the base load as well as infrastructure. Matheson says over 60% of the current electric supply is being met with the burning of fossil fuels. A...
Nov 14, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. NFGA celebrates its 125th anniversary this week and maintains the same objectives and mission statement that brought the group together over a century ago. Seyfert says NGFA members celebrate House approval of the Infrastructure Bill and look forward to much needed improvements in the nation’s roads, bridges and waterways. Seyfert says NGFA supports competition in the rail industry and conti...
Nov 07, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. While farmers grapple with the price and availability of fertilizer and crop protection products for 2022, LaVigne says the seed industry should be well supplied and ready to meet seed demand for the new year. LaVigne says the seed industry needs consistent regulatory rules from Washington and uniform acceptance and guidance on new plant breeding techniques. LaVigne says global acceptance of new...
Oct 31, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark. The Arkansas First District Representative isn’t a fan of the infrastructure packages under consideration in Washington. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Crawford believes climate-smart agriculture programs and conservation spending should fall under the ag leadership of legislators. He doesn’t see an urgency to approve new funds now that amend or compete with existing farm programs. Crawford is outspoken on what he sees ...
Oct 24, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Chris Novak, president and CEO of CropLife America. The crop protection industry is working to overcome challenges on a number of fronts to provide an adequate supply of products for farmers in the 2022 crop year. Chris Novak says CLA members are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, labor issues, ingredient availability as well as shipping and transportation hurdles. Novak says the industry is challenged by a domestic regulatory structure that struggles with...
Oct 17, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board. The nation’s swine producers are cautiously optimistic given consistent domestic demand for pork and increases in volume and value of U.S. pork export sales. On the home front, Even suggests the industry is focused on protecting the herd from African swine fever and is working at every level along with USDA and other government agencies to safeguard animals and the supply chain. Even says the pork checkoff continues to shar...
Oct 10, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. As a key member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the Ohio Democrat realizes the need for infrastructure spending for his state and rural communities across the nation. Brown supports the Biden administration’s Build Back Better proposal and believes the massive effort will be funded in ways that prevent a significant strain on the U.S. budget. He dismisses concerns about potential estate tax burdens on famil...
Oct 03, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rep. Dusty Johnson. The South Dakota Republican says the verdict is still out on how much this season’s dry weather will impact farmers and ranchers in his state. He also says the nation should not be naïve to the lasting impact that huge federal spending will have on programs Washington will be able to afford in years to come. Johnson prefers a bipartisan solution to federal infrastructure investments and opposes the “one-party” approach to spending issues. He’s of...
Sep 26, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member John Boozman. The Arkansas Republican isn’t pleased with the process of budget reconciliation for the Build Back Better Plan now before Congress. Boozman questions not only the sum of funds but the lack of detail in how the agriculture dollars will be used. While stepped-up basis may be preserved with the plan in its current form, Boozman says that can quickly change and says lowering the minimum inheritance tax thresholds could ha...
Sep 19, 2021
This week’s Open Mic Guest is Megan Kaiser, treasurer and five-year member of the United Soybean Board. As a farmer and soil scientist, Kaiser says growers are reaping the benefits of previous checkoff investments in new uses and sustainability, leading to better soil health, increased productivity and a healthier environment. Farmer-funded research has also paved the way for cleaner air in major U.S. cities using biodiesel, biodegradable food and beverage packaging and more potential for food a...
Sep 12, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Illinois 17th District Representative Cheri Bustos. As a leader of the Democratic Party’s effort to strengthen the relationship with rural voters, Bustos believes there’s universal support in the House for the $1-trillion dollar infrastructure package. Bustos believes the Biden administration will deliver on its promise to protect farmers and small business owners in the larger reconciliation package referred to as “Build Back Better”. She supports an “all of the ab...
Sep 05, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. On the sidelines of a meeting with constituents early last week, the senior Senator from Kentucky took time to discuss the nation’s fiscal policy, infrastructure spending, the conflict in Afghanistan, climate and voter rights issues. McConnell discusses the political climate in Washington and the nation’s energy policy as well as the state of the hemp industry following the 2018 farm bill.
Aug 29, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Rita Hite, Executive Vice President for External Relations and Policy for the American Forest Foundation. As the nation’s leaders draw attention to climate change and carbon sequestration, the American Forest Foundation touts the role families and individual forest land owners can play in pulling carbon from the atmosphere. While crop and livestock producers may offer more immediate results, Hite says forest lands can easily double their benefit to the atmosphere. I...
Aug 22, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and ranking member on the agriculture subcommittee, the former governor of North Dakota has led a bipartisan effort to bring financial relief to drought-stricken farmers and ranchers in his state. He’s counting on additional short-term assistance from the USDA and is hopeful the budget process will deliver much-needed resources before the end of the year. Hoeven is concerned over the pric...
Aug 15, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. As the nation’s cattle producers gather in Nashville this week, the Beef Board will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the beef checkoff. Hanes believes producer promotion and research have helped to solidify beef’s place in the diet and its overall value is helping grow demand domestically and around the globe. Hanes speaks to the legal challenges facing checkoff programs, changing consumer influences and the oppor...
Aug 08, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. In a state noted for its lakes and natural beauty, dry weather remains a huge issue for livestock and crop farmers alike. Smith says additional federal support may be needed in her state and others. In this interview, Smith discusses the two infrastructure packages at play on Capitol Hill as well as concerns over federal spending. Smith is a strong supporter of the Renewable Fuel Standard but agrees with a balanced “all of the above” attitud...
Aug 01, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. The Iowa ag leader is in the thick of issues from renewable fuel policy to global trade agreements. Grassley wants a government response to cattle price discovery and offers a willingness to compromise on policy options. The meatpacking industry will be the focus of a pair of hearings this week, one by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and another by a House Agriculture subcommittee. He also offers insights on confined animal feeding ope...
Jul 25, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. As a third-generation farmer, Tester and his wife are seeing firsthand the devastating impact of drought in the West. Tester supports infrastructure spending and government outlays to pull the country out of the pandemic-induced recession. In this interview, he speaks to the issues of consolidation, competition and transparency in the cattle market as well as California’s Proposition 12 and recently proposed legislation to eliminate CAFOs by...
Jul 18, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Tracy Zea, president and CEO of the Waterways Council, Inc. Formed about 20 years ago WCI’s mission is to lobby for improvements to the nation’s inland waterways system. Zea says an outdated and antiquated locks and dams infrastructure continues to support a large percentage of the nation’s GDP. While legislation authorizing the upgrade of a number of facilities has been approved by Congress, funding has been lacking to see actual work begin on these projects. Zea a...
Jul 11, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Karsten Temme, CEO of Pivot Bio. Genetic engineering of commercial crops has brought tremendous increases in productivity and sustainability. Microbial science is proving its worth in preserving plant health and providing much-needed nutrients for sustainable production. Pivot Bio offers biological solutions to plant nutrition to displace synthetic fertilizer with nitrogen from the atmosphere. In this interview, Temme outlines the science that could provide tremendo...
Jul 04, 2021
This week’s Open Mic guest is Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI-The Food Industry Association. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a tremendous strain on nearly every aspect of the food industry and seemingly overnight changes in consumer shopping patterns. Sarasin suggests many of those new paradigms are here to stay. FMI’s Grocery Shopper Trends survey indicates technology will play a greater role in how consumers shop for food and some well-defined differences in shopper attitudes and motiva...
Jun 27, 2021
