Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

As she prepares to leave her USDA position at the end of the month, Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh joins Agri-Pulse to reflect on her time as the department’s number two official and how farmers and ranchers have fared during her tenure. She also offers thoughts on USDA’s Equity Commission, which she expects will continue its work long after her departure. Then, Scott Gerlt with the American Soyb...

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has proposed creating a new human foods program at the agency to centralize FDA’s oversight of 80% of the country's food supply. Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to talk about the idea, funding the agency, and making the next farm bill more climate friendly. Then, a panel including Tom Chapman with the Organic Trade Association, Jacqlyn Schn...

Now several weeks removed from a prolonged process to pick the next House Speaker, congressional Republicans are forming their committees and rolling out policy priorities. House Ag GOP member Don Bacon joins Newsmakers to discuss the obstacles facing the next farm bill and how he hopes to be involved in shaping it. Then, a panel including Lia Biondo with the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, Geoff Co...

The federal government has invested billions into connecting rural America with improved internet service, and USDA funds have been a big part of the effort. USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Xochitl Torres Small joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss how that funding has been distributed and how the department plans to invest future resources. Then, Emily Buckman with the American Farm Bureau...

The House and Senate Ag Committees are ramping up preparations for the upcoming farm bill, and Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow has a list of priorities heading into the legislative debate. She joins Newsmakers this week to offer her thoughts on how the process will shake out and how she hopes to bring the nation’s ag groups to the table for any spending fights leading up to the bill. Then, farm po...

The first week of the 118th Congress has been marked by the requirement of multiple votes to elect a House Speaker for the first time in 100 years. As House Republicans sort out their future leadership team, the next chair of the House Ag Committee – Pennsylvania Republican Glenn “GT” Thompson – joins Newsmakers to discuss how he plans to put a farm bill together in the current political climate. ...

As 2022 comes to a close, Agri-Pulse sat down with leaders across the farm policy spectrum to better understand their priorities in the upcoming farm bill as well as their broader legislative and regulatory efforts. Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., will be one of the top Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee in the new Congress, offering rural influence in a powerful position on Capitol Hill. In this interview, he discusses the committee’s priorities in the upcoming Congress and what that might mean for farm policy. Then, Agri-Pulse’s Sara Wyant discusses how our annual CEO salary report got started, wh...

Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet introduced new farm workforce legislation this week, giving him and the bill’s other supporters one week to build the support the bill will need in the current session of Congress. Bennet, a member of the Senate Ag Committee, also discusses his priorities for the upcoming farm bill and the state of drought in the American west. Then, a panel of experts including Cl...

The lame duck session is a busy one in Washington, and several farm policy priorities are hanging in the balance. Senate Ag Committee Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas joins this week’s Newsmakers to discuss reform at the Food and Drug Administration, the chances of passage for ag labor legislation and more. Then, Chandler Goule with the National Association of Wheat Growers, Mary-Thomas Hart wi...

Congress is checking off a long list of priorities in the lame duck session and setting the stage for a busy 2023. Georgia Republican Austin Scott is one of the top Republicans on the House Ag Committee and joins Newsmakers to preview his priorities in the upcoming House majority. Then, Danielle Beck with Invariant, Jonathan Coppess with the University of Illinois and RJ Karney with NASDA offer th...

Harvest is wrapping up across the country and Thanksgiving celebrations to celebrate that bounty cost consumers more money this year. As the year comes to a close, Newsmakers discusses the finances of food production in 2022 and looks ahead to 2023. American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Roger Cryan discusses the group’s Thanksgiving food price survey and what those figures mean for produ...

Agri-Pulse joined the nation’s farm broadcasting community in Kansas City this week for discussions with some of the leading voices in agriculture, including top officials from the Biden administration. In this week’s show, USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie, EPA Ag Advisor Rod Snyder, and Chris Bliley with Growth Energy discuss the latest issues in conservation, water regulations, biofuels policy...

Tuesday’s midterm elections brought a shock to the conventional expectations that were expecting a big night for Republicans in the House and Senate. Now, experts like Nathan Gonzales at Inside Elections are working to unpack what voters wanted when they cast their ballots in 2022 and what that means for 2024 and beyond. Farm policy professionals are also keeping a close eye on vote tallies still...

Voters across the country will cast their ballots on Tuesday, and former House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson is concerned about where his party is headed. He joins this week's Newsmakers to share his thoughts on that and the current state of affairs in global trade. Then, Vince Peterson with the U.S. Wheat Associates and Kip Tom with Tom Farms discuss the latest developments on efforts to shi...

Wildfires have burned across the country in 2022, but the acreage this year is comfortably below the record levels of year’s past. Angela Coleman, the associate chief of the U.S. Forest Service, joins Newsmakers to discuss this year’s fire season and steps being taken to better maintain the country’s federal forests and secure a large enough firefighting workforce. Then, Rita Hite with the America...

The Department of Agriculture rolled out $800 million in assistance for producers behind on loans this week as well as a new protocol for servicing debt in the future. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack joins Newsmakers to discuss why the department is taking this particular approach and also how he envisions future action on climate-smart commodities and more. Then, Dana Brooks with the Pet Food Institute,...

Hurricane Ian recovery is in full swing, and agriculture in the areas hit by the storm will have a lengthy road back to normal. Florida Republican Kat Cammack joins Newsmakers to discuss her view of things on the ground and why she would like to wait to pass relief funding until the damages are better understood. Then, American Farm Bureau’s Travis Cushman, Brian Frazelle with the Constitutional A...

The Supreme Court took up the first of two major farm policy cases it will hear at the beginning of its term this week, and observers are working to sort through what the arguments will mean for the future of wetlands regulation. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., joins Newsmakers to discuss that case as well as the upcoming arguments over California’s Prop 12 and the path to recovery from Hurricane Ian....

The Biden administration released a strategy this week to end hunger by 2030 and convened a major gathering Wednesday on the subject. One of the speakers was renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés, who joins Newsmakers to discuss his message to the conference as well as the World Central Kitchen response to Hurricane Ian. Then, a panel of food and nutrition policy leaders including Vince Hall...

Lawmakers have one more week to agree on a measure to fund the government into the new fiscal year. While a shutdown is not expected to happen, frustration lingers on Capitol Hill about the amount of time the process has taken. Kansas Republican Tracey Mann joins Newsmakers to discuss that issue as well as his priorities for the upcoming farm bill. Then, Mark Dopp with the North American Meat Inst...

A bill to reform the country’s ag labor language has received House support, but the measure is currently stuck in the Senate. Washington Republican Dan Newhouse, the lead House GOP member on the effort, joins Newsmakers to discuss that bill’s prospects after offering his thoughts on inflation and work to fund the government in the new fiscal year. Then, Kristi Boswell with Alston & Bird, Mich...

Lawmakers are headed into the final months of the 117th Congress, offering a chance to decide what priorities will see action this year and work on bills for the next session. For Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., that means a big focus on the next farm bill. She joins Newsmakers to discuss that legislation as well as the committee’s agenda for the rest of the year. Then, Robert...

Grain is now being shipped out of Ukraine under a fragile agreement, offering some hope to hungry people around the world looking to receive their familiar supplies from the country. But what has the conflict taught us about the importance of food in the world’s global security conversation? Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins Newsmakers to offer his thoughts. Then, Phil Karsting of OFW La...

The last week saw major progress in efforts to pass the Inflation Reduction Act into law, and the farm policy community is working to understand the particulars of the bill. Illinois Republican and House Ag Committee member joins Newsmakers to offer his thoughts on the bill’s provisions. Then, Daren Bakst with The Heritage Foundation, James Glueck with Michael Torrey Associates and Laura Wood Pete...