Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

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...

After serving 12 of the last 16 years as agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack will end his tenure leading USDA at the change of administration Monday. In an exit interview, he discussed the potential fate of climate and equity programs under the incoming administration and how his vision for USDA has changed since he first took office in 2009. He also discussed his ongoing concerns for the agricultu...

Avian flu was first identified in dairy cattle in March. We asked Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, how USDA’s nationwide milk testing strategy is being implemented to safeguard the food supply and what additional measures may be needed. Then, Invariant’s Anne MacMillan and Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates discuss the $10B market relief pack...

As 2024 comes to a close, Agri-Pulse Newsmakers looks back at some of the biggest stories in ag and food policy, including the farm bill, bird flu in dairy cattle, reports from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, Hurricane Helene's agricultural impact, and more. Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Farm Credit System has experienced many changes in recent decades to better support rural America. Todd Van Hoose, retiring president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council, discussed the viability of lenders in 2025 and looked back at a historic farm bill advocacy push. Christy Seyfert will succeed Van Hoose in January. Then, The Russell Group’s Jessica Schulken and John Weber from Monument Advoc...

Republicans will take control of the Senate in January, making John Boozman chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. We asked him about his plans for the committee, including collaborating with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who's in line to be the ranking member, and how Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees may influence agriculture. Then, Laura Wood from LWP Consulting and Invariant’s Danielle Beck discuss the cont...

California Rep. Jim Costa is challenging the House Ag Committee’s current ranking member, David Scott of Georgia, and Angie Craig of Minnesota for the top Democratic position on the panel. We ask about Costa’s vision for the committee. Then, we talk with two of Brooke Rollins’ former colleagues to learn how she may lead the Ag Department if confirmed. Drew DeBerry from Axis Strategies and Corey Ro...

A challenging farm economy and clean fuels tax credit decision could lead to changes for farm country in 2025.We look ahead at big issues for the new year with farm group leaders, including American Soybean Association President Josh Gackle, National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman Amy France, National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr. and United Soybean Export Council Board Dire...

The race is on to pass a farm bill extension before the end of the year after Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow released her farm bill text this week and it was rejected by Republicans. We asked Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., about the future of the farm bill and prospects for a package of market loss relief and disaster aid in December. Then, NASDA’s RJ Karney and NFU’s Aaron Shier discuss wha...

It’s official: Republicans have won control of the House as well as the Senate and White House. Biofuel policy, the farm bill and trade could see changes under the new administration and Congress. We asked Torrey Advisory Group President Michael Torrey, NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys, American Sugarbeet Growers Assn. CEO Luther Markwart and ACE CEO Brian Jennings about their outlook from the National As...

Donald Trump won the presidency and the GOP won control of the Senate this week. Some House race votes are still being tallied. We sat down with two former agriculture secretaries, Dan Glickman from the Clinton administration and Mike Johanns from the Bush administration, to discuss what could be ahead regarding trade and immigration policy, as well as the possible role of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in...

2024 World Food Prize laureates Cary Fowler and Geoffrey Hawtin were honored for their life work protecting crop biodiversity at the Borlaug International Dialogue. We asked Fowler about the creation of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Then, Jim Snee, CEO of Hormel, and his wife and community advocate, Tammy discuss Hormel’s Hometown Food Security Project, and Manuel Otero, IICA director general, s...

Election day is less than two weeks away. Senate Ag Committee member Peter Welch, D-Vt., joined the show to discuss what a Harris-Walz presidency could mean for agriculture. Then, American Farm Bureau Federation’s Joby Young and Jonathan Coppess from the University of Illinois discuss the possibility of a farm bill being passed this year and how a disaster aid package may be written to support far...