Podcasts about agri pulse

Agri-Pulse reports today that some members of Congress are growing uneasy with the pace of trade negotiations given the pending deadline posed by the Trump administration. Global fertilizer supplies are being impacted by the war between Iran and Israel. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was in Texas today to announce additional efforts to protect the U.S. from the spread of New World Screwworm. NCBA CEO Collin Woodall says the pest can be deadly for cattle but poses no threat to food safety. 

Fears of New World Screwworm drove livestock futures prices lower today. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will be joined by members of Congress for a press conference tomorrow announcing additional efforts to combat the pest.

U.S. corn and soybean condition and progress continues to advance according to USDA's latest Weekly Crop Progress Report. The Brazilian corn harvest is running behind last year's pace but scouts there see excellent crop potential. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. The most recent food insecurity numbers from the USDA suggest more people are food insecure today than during the Covid Pandemic. Babineaux-Fontenot says food donations and financial contributions are trending lower while more people are seeking assistance. Babineau-Fontenot strongly disagrees with GOP plans to change Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, saying the cuts could create a 9.5 billion meal shortfall in the nation. 

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 Advisory Group and Ken Barbic with Invariant continue the discussion on reconciliation, then dive into trade and state SNAP waivers restricting soda and candy purchases.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Trade talks between the U.S. and China are reported going "very well" by administration officials. The Senate approves key positions at USDA and EPA and Trump steel tariffs could increase canned food prices. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Andy LaVigne, President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. Members of ASTA will be in Washington this week spending time on Capitol Hill to lobby for issues critical to the seed industry's future.  LaVigne says along with their customers, ASTA members need the certainty of a new farm bill, free and open global markets as well as science-based regulations that will protect the industry from litigation. 

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 challenges facing the industry.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Representatives of the National Pork Producers Council continue to call on Congress to approve a completely new farm bill. NPPC is pleased that the reconciliation package included needed farm program updates, but say the budget bill doesn't include everything the industry needs. 

As promised, President Trump is raising tariffs on aluminum and steel. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley supports whole milk on school menus and the World Pork Expo opens tomorrow at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. 

This week's Open Mic guest is U.S. Representative Angie Craig, Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. The Minnesota Democrat stands in strong opposition to the House Reconciliation Act that took billions of dollars from the SNAP program to make room for tax cuts and adds to the nation's budget deficit. Craig opposes the Trump administration's use of tariffs and doesn't believe the nation's farm economy can withstand the economic challenges presented by reciprocal tariffs from offended trading partners. Craig says change to farm and food programs should come from regular order in Congress and not from the MAHA Commission. 

Comments from former Agriculture Secretaries Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns preview this week's Agri-Pulse Newsmakers as well as comments from House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig who's featured in the upcoming Agri-Pulse Open Mic. Reconciliation, tariffs and farm programs are featured topics.

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.Glickman and Johanns also discuss the Make America Healthy Again report, President Trump's tariffs and USDA staff reductions.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The legal challenge over President Trump's authority to impose tariffs on global trading partners took another turn this afternoon. A stay will allow the U.S. to continue to collect tariffs until the appeal process plays out. 

Over 300 agriculture and related groups sent a letter calling on Congress to enact the bipartisan Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act. The groups say state labeling requirements contradict EPA's scientific findings on pesticide safety. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Neil Caskey, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. Caskey says last week's Make America Healthy Again report overshadowed the news of updates to the nation's farm programs and tax policy in the House of Representatives. Caskey is anxious to see the EPA's pending RVO announcement under the Renewable Fuel Standard and hopes Congress can finally approve year-round E-15 legislation. He says the nation's corn growers are willing to give President Trump's trade policy time to play out, but they hope the exercise leads to increased market access. 

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 the president's trade policy.Then, Jim Richards with Cornerstone Government Affairs and Anne Simmons with The Peterson Group, Inc. discuss the specifics of reconciliation and whether comprehensive farm bills are a thing of the past.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

This week's Open Mic guest is Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers. The budget reconciliation debate introduced much needed changes to farm programs that many agriculture groups have hoped for, but Goule says there are many needed provisions that were orphaned in the reconciliation process and need to be addressed. Like others, Goule is concerned about the consequences of U.S. tariffs and retaliation by other countries. He is also concerned about keeping wheat acres competitive with other crops so acres don't continue to fall. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman. The Arkansas Republican says updating farm programs under budget reconciliation won't be easy but is a way forward to update risk management tools for farmers. Boozman believes SNAP program funds can be cut without reducing benefits for those in need and discusses President Trump's tariff tactics to bring better trade relationships for farmers and industry.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins told farm broadcasters the department's downsizing plan would be released next week. Rollins said President Trump would soon be announcing new global trade agreements. 

Agriculture leaders shared their goals for a new farm bill and updated tax policy with the nation's farm broadcasters this afternoon in Washington. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis for the American Sugar Alliance. Johansson says sugar growers are facing the same economic headwinds of high input costs and marginal commodity prices. Growers hope for a new farm bill with updates in crop insurance and marketing loan prices reflective of current market conditions. Johansson says growers still satisfy a majority of domestic sugar demand and support sound science regarding dietary guidance coming from Washington.

President Trump's proposed budget for 2026 points to continued downsizing of some government agencies and programs. One Maine Democrat says SNAP funds are off limits for upgrading farm programs.

Farm policy makers on Capitol Hill are searching for options in a challenging legislative landscape to update portions of farm policy.  NCBA's Ethan Lane says they're pleased with an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico to keep a dangerous pest south of the border. 

Beth Ford - Land of Lakes CEO on Agri-Pulse

This week's Open Mic guest is Beth Ford, President and CEO of Land O' Lakes. While the cooperative is known for its dairy products, Ford says two thirds of their member enterprises are in other segments of agriculture. Ford says low bulk commodity returns coupled with inflation's impact on inputs have brought financial stress to many operations and uncertainty over global market access further clouds farmer's financial outlook. She now chairs the Immigration Committee of the Business Roundtable and says agriculture desperately needs an adequate workforce as well as a new farm bill and updated tax policy.

This week's Open Mic guest is Steve Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association.  Soybean farmers face surmountable challenges from low crop prices, high input costs and an uncertain future demand outlook. Censky hopes the current trade war is short-lived and brings worthy results. Censky says soybean farmers are watching closely the downsizing at USDA and holding out hope Congress can deliver a new farm bill this year. The EPA's pending RVO announcement could be the determining factor between profit and loss in 2025. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Congressman Frank Lucas. The Oklahoma 3rd District representative says covid, global military conflicts and trade have heightened concern surrounding the size of the nation's debt. He believes it is right to question government spending with proper oversight and says the upcoming budget reconciliation process will be the "wildest political rodeo" voters have ever seen. Lucas guided the legislature into approving the 2014 farm bill and wants to see a new bill this year.

This week's Open Mic guest is Adam Bergman, Managing Director at EchoTech Capital. While opinions still widely vary regarding what sustainability really means, Bergman stands in the gap between would be investors and those willing to adopt certain sustainable practices.  In agriculture the topics include regenerative farming,  a vast array of climate smart practices and even indoor farming. Washington has proven that financial support for renewable fuels as well as electricity from solar and wind sources can influence growth. Moving forward, the question remains which energy sources will see favor from Capitol Hill and what agricultural practices investors will support toward a greener environment and stronger food security. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. With planting season underway in some areas of the country, Conner suggests the nation's farmer owned cooperatives are well stocked as producers prepare for the 2025 growing season. Conner says many or coops anticipated tariff issues and took early shipment of supplies for this season. A veteran of Capitol Hill policy debates, he acknowledges plenty of uncertainty surrounding the farm bill, tax policy and tariffs. Despite challenges, Conner believes legislators will take action on taxes and hopefully a new set of farm and nutrition programs. 

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. I'm Chuck Zimmerman. The first day of spring started the day after the annual Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Summit and National Ag Day Activities. We have published virtual newsrooms on our AgNewsWire website and story posts on AgWired. So, in this episode I'd like to share a few of the interviews and audio from the events. I'll start out with Agri-Pulse. You can listen to the opening remarks from Ireland's Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason. Next will be Jim Sutter, CEO, USSEC and then Jane Franch, Sr. Director, Climate Impact, Pivot Bio. I'll move to the National Ag Day Activities with a student panel discussion. The students are Taylor Rogers, National Grange Youth Ambassador; Lance Williams, AFA advisor; Caroline Groth, FFA Eastern Region Vice President; and Matias Habib, National 4H. Moderated by Miles Chiotti, Manager, Public & Industry Relations - Agriculture & Turf Division at John Deere. It is Cindy's time to be in Washington, DC this week for the ACE Fly-in. After that the next event coming up soon is the 2025 Agri-Marketing Conference. If you haven't registered, you can still do so. I'll see you there. If you have any ideas for a future ZimmCast podcast just let me know. That's the ZimmCast for now. I hope you enjoy it and thank for listening.

This week's Open Mic guest is Bill Hoagland, Senior Vice President of the Bipartisan Policy Center. In a day where Washington faces mounting issues of government outlays and rising national debt, Hoagland say partisanship must give way to solutions that maintain essential federal programs and services. Hoagland provides key insights on budget reconciliation, DOGE, tax reform, a farm bill and the debt ceiling, which are all critical issues facing the 119thCongress.

National Agriculture Day brings needed financial relief to farmers across the nation.  Agri-Pulse spoke with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on the nation's farm and fuel policy. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG. The global company is heavily invested in developing innovative technology for farmers around the world. The company's pursuit of crop genetics, herbicide resistance, chemical crop protection and data management has benefitted farmer goals toward both sustainability and productivity. Anderson tells Agri-Pulse that legal challenges to glyphosate are limiting the company's investments in innovation and may result in eliminating the sale of a herbicide that many farmers consider essential to sustainable production. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Chris Abbott, CEO of Pivot Bio. The California company was formed 15 years ago with a premise of using soil microbes to utilize naturally occurring nitrogen to sustainably feed plants and replace synthetic fertilizers. After going commercial five years ago, the company continues to grow the number of farmers and acres utilizing their gene edited products. Abbott sees a bright future for growth in the use of soil microbes to increase productivity, reduce nutrient costs and boost producer sustainability.

Agri-Pulse offers a special edition of Newsmakers featuring key agriculture leaders from this week's Commodity Classic in Denver. 

This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Representative John Garamendi. California's 8th district Democrat is a strong advocate for agriculture, nutrition programs and global humanitarian aid. As a member of the Agriculture Research Caucus, Garamendi believes DOGE cuts in government employees and spending cuts will lead to ill fated consequences for farmers in the form of crop and livestock disease research and readiness as well as dramatic cuts to food and medical aid for those in impoverished areas of the world. Garamendi sees little chance the California legislature will make changes to Prop 12, leaving that responsibility to Washington and perhaps a new farm bill. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tells Agri-Pulse the department intends to meet or beat the Congressional deadline to distribute economic and disaster assistance payments approved by legislators last year.