Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

The Senate was in town this week, but no progress on avoiding an early March government shutdown was observed. Despite the long to-do list and growing partisan climate in Washington, Kansas Republican Jerry Moran remains optimistic some accomplishments can still be notched in the win column for agriculture, as he discusses on this week’s Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. Then, Alexa Combelic with the America...

As Congress continues to work through appropriations bills, passing a farm bill looks further down the road. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the latest impact on a farm bill timeline and the top trade priorities for 2024.Then, ag lobbyists Mary Kay Thatcher with Syngenta and Anne MacMillan with Invariant discuss the I...

Congress was back in town this week, but work toward avoiding a government shutdown was minimal. Arkansas Republican and House Ag Committee member Rick Crawford joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the politics unfolding on Capitol Hill and what that environment might mean for key ag policy priorities like the farm bill, labor and more. Then, appropriations expert Roger Szemraj with OFW Law and...

Farm policy leaders are getting ready for the year ahead, including the conversations that will take place on Capitol Hill and across the country. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to offer his thoughts on the upcoming congressional calendar and what he expects will be on the agenda when his members convene soon in Salt Lake City. Then, Ethan Lane w...

As 2023 comes to a close, Agri-Pulse Newsmakers looks back at some of the biggest stories in ag and food policy, including the farm bill, the U.S.-Mexico genetically modified corn trade dispute, nutrition program funding, and more. Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Food and Drug Administration's food safety oversight has been under the microscope this year, and there have been some changes at the agency as a result. One of those changes was appointing Jim Jones as FDA's first deputy commissioner for human foods, and he joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss his work in the early days of the position and what that might ultimately mean for consumers. Then...

Many in farm policy are reporting a more positive reception for agriculture at the recent COP28 climate conference, including Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. The nation's top agriculture official joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss his experience at COP28, his thoughts on the congressional approach to the U.S.-China relationship, and the big news from the Department of Agriculture in 2023.Then, Debbi...

The upcoming farm bill is poised to be at the top of the House Ag agenda in 2024, but a senior GOP member of the panel says it might be time to rethink the way Congress approaches the legislation. Hear from Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., on what changes he thinks should be on the table in his interview with Agri-Pulse Newsmakers. Then, Robbie Minnich with the National Cotton Council and Jessica Schulke...

As 2023 nears its end, attention shifts to how Congress will approach the farm bill in 2024. Senate Ag Committee Democrat Ben Ray Luján joins Newsmakers to discuss his hopes for speedy action and what he hopes will be included in the legislation for producers in his home state. Then, Mike Lavender with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Tara Smith with the Torrey Advisory Group joi...

Producers are making plans for the 2024 growing season, and fertilizer supplies are top of mind. In this special edition of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, Corey Rosenbusch with The Fertilizer Institute, Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition, and Mike Seyfert with the National Grain and Feed Association discuss the various aspects of the fertilizer supply chain and what farmers should expect...

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers is on location this week, reporting from the 80th Annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development Farah Ahmad joins to discuss rural broadband and the implementation of the infrastructure bill. Then, American Soybean Association Vice President Josh Gackle offers thoughts on the extension of...

Leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committee are working on an extension of the 2018 farm bill, giving Congress more time to come up with a new five-year version of the legislation. House Ag Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the new timeline the extension offers Capitol Hill and how he's hoping to put a bill together. Then, Capitol Hill and farm bil...

Now that Congress is two weeks away from a looming government shutdown, House Ag Appropriator Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, offers the latest on where Congress stands on passing a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and how a farm bill extension could be included in the legislation. Then, T.A. Hawks with Monument Advocacy and Anne Steckel with the National Farmers Union discuss the latest...

The news many people have been watching for over the last three weeks came Wednesday with the election of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Former House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas offers his thoughts on what Johnson's election means for the future of the House, including his desire for speedy farm bill action. Then, Scott Gerlt with the American Soybean Association and Gary Schnitkey with the Univer...

Setting aside the leadership shuffling in the stalled House of Representatives, the Senate is also working through a government funding debate of its own. North Dakota's John Hoeven is the top Republican on the Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over USDA's budget, giving him a key role in the process. He joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss some of the particulars of the appropriations debat...

Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small was promoted to the number two role at USDA earlier this year, offering her a look at more of the department's inner-workings and the needs of its workforce. She joins Agri-Pulse to discuss USDA’s current and future employee needs as well as the relationship the department has with Congress as it works on a new farm bill. Then, Danielle Beck with Invariant and...

This week’s news on Capitol Hill was dominated by the removal of (now-former) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and the farm bill implications of that news are still being understood. Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., stops by to discuss what the news means for the rest of the year’s calendar and chat about the farm bill dynamics in the Senate. Then, Sam Kieffer with the American Farm Bureau Fe...

As Congress rushes to fund the government, Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., discusses the potential impact a government shutdown could have on America’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Plus, he dives deeper into climate policy and what the dialog could look like in the upcoming farm bill. Then, USDA Trade Undersecretary Alexis Taylor joins from Santiago, Chile, to discuss the most recent trade missio...

How to best utilize billions in conservation funding from the Inflation Reduction Act is at the heart of the farm bill debate right now on Capitol Hill, and Senate Ag Committee ranking member John Boozman of Arkansas hopes to bring many voices into the conversation. He joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss his thoughts on that funding and other farm bill priorities. Then, Robbie Minnich with the...

The House and Senate were both in action this week, but neither recorded concrete progress on government funding with a Sept. 30 shutdown date looming. North Carolina Republican David Rouzer joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the sentiment among his colleagues on government funding legislation and the path toward a new farm bill. Then, Deb Calhoun with Waterways Council and Anne MacMillan with...

Congress is back in town after a monthlong recess, putting government funding and the next farm bill front and center for many lawmakers. Senate Ag Committee Democrat Tina Smith joins this week's Newsmakers to offer her thoughts on the timelines for both issues and her priorities as Congress begins writing legislative text. Then, farm policy veterans Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois...

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a fresh definition for a Water of the United States this week, and farm groups are concerned the new language might have some of the same old problems. EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Radhika Fox joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to offer her firsthand account of the rule and what it means for rural America. Then, Courtney Briggs with the...

As a former physician and state health official, Iowa Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks has a unique perspective on the state of rural health care. She joins this week's Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the issue and how she hopes to address the issue in Congress. Then, Florence Becot with the National Farm Medicine Center and Alan Morgan with the National Rural Health Association focus on the a...

The Biden administration is taking the next step in the process of putting a stop to Mexico's proposed ban on biotech corn imports, and U.S. Trade Representative Chief Ag Negotiator Doug McKalip joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to explain what comes next between the two countries and take a look at other trade issues around the world as well. Then, Aubrey Bettencourt with the Almond Alliance of Califor...

Former House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson discusses the potential hurdles facing the upcoming farm bill and what a timeline to getting a farm bill through both chambers looks like. He also shares the advice he’s told lawmakers as they begin to draft the next farm bill. Then, Tara Smith with Torrey Advisory Group and farm policy consultant Ferd Hoefner share their thoughts on reference prices...