Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins released the long-awaited USDA reorganization plan this week including closure of some facilities and relocation of many staff to regional hubs across the country. We spoke with Maryland Rep. April McClain Delaney about the plan, including the closure of the Beltsville Ag Research Center in her state, as well as rural broadband deployment. Plus, Eric Steiner with OFW La...

The Trump administration said ag would be exempt from immigration raids, then said that "no amnesty" will be shown for those employed in agriculture. We speak with Rep. Andrea Salinas, a Democratic Congresswoman representing Oregon's Willamette Valley, about the strain this uncertainty is putting on her district's producers as well as how staff reductions at the Forest Service could impact wildfir...

The reconciliation bill passed by Congress this month cuts nutrition program spending by an estimated $186 billion over ten years. We spoke with Rep. Shri Thanedar, an ag committee Democrat who represents the Detroit metropolitan area, who tells us that after the cuts to SNAP, "I don't think it's going to be smooth sailing for what you call the skinny farm bill."Then, Tara Smith with Torrey Adviso...

Sentiment in farm country has fluctuated with talk of trade wars, weakened commodity prices, as well as rising input and regulatory costs that are squeezing producers. Christy Seyfert, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council, discusses the state of the farm economy and the benefits rural America will see from farm provisions passed in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. Then, Dan Basse,...

Senate Republicans are still working through a few major issues as they continue trying to pass the reconciliation bill by President Trump’s July 4 deadline. Sen. Raphael Warnock, the only southern Democrat on the Senate Ag Committee, discusses how he thinks the bill’s treatment of SNAP, Medicaid and Inflation Reduction Act programs could hurt rural America. Then, Jacqlyn Schneider with FGS Global...

Senate leadership is still aiming to have the budget reconciliation bill through the Senate by July 4. Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman joins Newsmakers to outline the benefits farm country will see in the bill. He also discusses immigration, the MAHA Commission report and his optimism for passing a complete farm bill this Congress. Plus, Mike Stranz with the National Farmers Union and Tas S...

The Senate Ag Committee released budget reconciliation text this week that includes a boost to some key farm bill programs and a less aggressive state SNAP cost share proposal than the House. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., discusses the proposal and her recent meeting with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the Make America Healthy Again Commission report. Plus, Katie Naessens with Torrey...

The pork industry suffered one of the worst economic years on record in 2023. As producers now grapple with the uncertainty of tariffs, we speak with Kevin Stuckey, sow unit manager at Cooper Farms in Ohio, Chris Ford, VP corporate swine lender at Farm Credit Services of America and Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director Kylee Deniz to get a pulse on the animal health, labor and economic challen...

Senate Republicans will spend the coming weeks trying to agree on changes to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.  We asked Clinton and George W. Bush administration ag secretaries, Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns, about how reconciliation elements may change in the Senate and the fate of the traditional rural-urban farm bill coalition. "It looks to me like the coalition broke up," Johanns says...

House Republicans passed their reconciliation bill by a one vote margin. The bill boosts farm programs and extends key tax breaks but cuts SNAP program spending. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson joins Newsmakers to talk about why the bill is so important for agriculture. He also discusses the impact of federal downsizing at USDA and whether farmers should be worried about t...

House Republicans advanced major pieces of their massive budget bill this week, including expanded tax benefits for farmers and small businesses. We asked Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., how those provisions could fare in the Senate. He also says he’s pushing back on Make America Healthy Again advocates who criticize pesticide use, and he talks about what he expects from the new dietary guidelines. T...

House Agriculture Committee members will have a lengthy markup next week to find the instructed $230 billion in budget reconciliation savings. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., explains Democrats' opposition to nutrition cuts and the scrubbing of the term "climate" at USDA.Then, former USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie discusses downsizing at the agency and Angela Ra...

Republicans on the House Ag Committee are trying to reach agreement on cuts to nutrition assistance and increases in farm bill spending. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, says Democrats will be largely opposed to SNAP cuts to fund a boost to commodity programs. “We can’t rob Peter to pay Paul,” she said. Then, Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates and Gina Plata-Nino with the Food Research and...

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says the USDA's downsizing plan due in May could include some consolidation. Recording at the White House Easter Egg Roll, we also asked her about the department's plans to address bird flu this spring, her thoughts on the timing for trade assistance and whether she’s confident Congress will provide needed funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Then, we speak...

Congressional Republicans are still a long way from agreeing on the giant budget reconciliation bill, but NCFC leader Chuck Conner says he sees ‘glimmers of hope’ for a boost to the farm safety net in the package. Conner also discusses the possibility for ag labor reform this Congress as well as tariffs and brain drain at USDA. Then, Dan Halstrom from the U.S. Meat Export Federation and Krista Swa...

President Donald Trump this week temporarily paused country-specific reciprocal tariffs while those applied to China increased to 125%. We asked Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., how the move could change the U.S.' ag trading relationship with China and his thoughts on staff reductions at the Agriculture Department. Then, Tim Lust from the National Sorghum Producers and Ken Barbic with Invariant discuss...

President Trump unveiled a massive tariff plan this week adding a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports, plus a higher reciprocal tariff on many U.S. trading partners. We asked Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., how the tariffs will affect producers and how farm bill elements may be incorporated into budget reconciliation. Then, the American Soybean Association's Virginia Houston and Joe Glauber from the...

After three hurricanes hit her Florida district in 13 months, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., overviews recovery efforts and the possibility to embed USDA staff in FEMA to assist with future disasters. She also discusses the potential for including farm bill elements in budget reconciliation, saying it is “absolutely feasible.”Then, T.A. Hawks with Monument Advocacy and Mike Stranz from the National Far...

The agriculture industry is beginning to feel shocks from retaliatory tariffs aimed at U.S. farm products. We speak with National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney about how President Trump’s aggressive trade agenda is impacting American agriculture and look ahead to NASDA’s farm bill priorities. Then, Scott Gerlt with the American Soybean Association and Roger Cryan...

It’s been a big week for farm country as President Donald Trump enacted, then delayed, tariffs on Mexico and Canada. We spoke with farm group leaders at Commodity Classic in Denver about their top priorities in 2025, including tariffs, the state of the farm economy and renewable fuels. Tune in to hear from American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland, National Corn Growers Association Pres...

The Agriculture Department’s staff was downsized by federal employee layoffs. We asked Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., how the staff changes will impact rural America and if farmers should be concerned about the Department of Government Efficiency. Then, Tara Smith with Torrey Advisory Group and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Mike Lavender discuss the impact of the federal aid freeze a...

House Republicans are moving a budget plan that would slash USDA funding by $230 billion. South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson joined Newsmakers to discuss the possible cuts, which will likely come from nutrition assistance. Then, Jim Richards from Cornerstone Government Affairs explains how SNAP program cuts in budget reconciliation could shape farm bill debate and Nick Levendofsky from the...

Trade has been top of mind for farm country this week as President Donald Trump imposed and delayed tariffs on the country’s top trading partners. Former Ag Secretaries Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns, USDA leaders during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, discuss the impact of enacted and potential tariffs. They also share their thoughts on Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Ag Secret...

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., is the new ranking member on the House Ag Committee. We sat down with her and Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Penn., to discuss their vision for leading the committee and their stance on nutrition programs, which could be subject to cuts in budget reconciliation. Then, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall joins the show from the organization’s convention in San An...

Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States Monday. We asked former House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas how this Trump administration could be different than the last and if farmers should be concerned about another trade war. Then, Michael Marsh from the National Council of Agricultural Employers and Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois discuss how farm and...