Podcast appearances and mentions of Tom Vilsack

Headlines on today's episode include: Dr. Mariangela Hungria named 2025 World Food Prize winner, Vilsack says threats to global food system are increasing, House Ways and Means signs off on tax portion of the budget reconciliation bill, Ethanol leaders pleased with 45Z inclusion, Syngenta says MAHA Commission needs to use sound science, and Winter wheat tour in Kansas shows more signs of drought, disease pressure.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

04/17/25: Joel Heitkamp is joined by the former Governor and Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, for a conversation on the status of the Farm Bill, how the tariffs impact our ag economy, trade agreements with other countries, and more. In 1998, Mr. Vilsack became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He now serves as the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service. Learn more about him and the World Food Prize Foundation on their website. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Agriculture Today, we'll learn about the ag industry's anticipation for next week's latest tariff announcements, former U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack's take on the trade war situation, a bill in Congress that crack's down on China's ability to manipulate global trade, and a look at seed supplies heading into planting season with Stine Seed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's episode covers the latest in agriculture, including updates on egg news, tariffs, and a special National Ag Week interview with former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, now CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation. We also dive into USDA's recent decision to streamline U.S. pork and poultry processing, along with the latest weather and market updates. In our first interview, Tom Vilsack shares his insights on the current state of agriculture and his vision in his new role. Plus, we speak with Midwestern BioAg's Director of Agronomy, Brandon Meiners, about how the company is partnering with farmers to improve soil health through regenerative practices and their product portfolio. Follow us daily with agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube in addition to our weekly videos!

Former USDA secretary Tom Vilsack hopes for bipartisan support to addressing hunger as the new CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation.

Vegan First. How Hard is That? A recent Newsweek article about climate change and the Los Angeles fires was an example of such irresponsible journalism that it even used the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), headed by a former dairy industry lobbyist, Tom Vilsack, as a source for the greenhouse gas emissions contribution of animal agriculture.  Listen to today's episode for details, written by Sailesh Rao at ClimateHealers.org #vegan #plantbased #plantbasedbriefing #climatecrisis #climatechange #rewilding #animalagriculture  ========================= Original post: https://climatehealers.org/blog/a-plea-for-courage-at-the-world-wildlife-fund/    Related Episodes:   691: [Part 1] We Won The Oxford Union Debate About Veganism https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/691-part-1-we-won-the-oxford-union-debate-about-veganism-by-sailesh-rao-at-climatehealersorg    692: [Part 2] We Won The Oxford Union Debate about Veganism https://plantbasedbriefing.libsyn.com/692-part-2-we-won-the-oxford-union-debate-about-veganism-by-sailesh-rao-at-climatehealersorg    V-COP Registration: https://climatehealers.org/transform/v-cop/    Vega - The Cow In The Room Video (1 min) https://vimeo.com/639434716    ============================= Dr. Sailesh Rao is the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth's climate. Dr. Rao is the author of two books, Carbon Dharma: The Occupation of Butterflies and Carbon Yoga: The Vegan Metamorphosis, and an Executive Producer of four documentaries, The Human Experiment (2013), Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014), What The Health (2017), and A Prayer for Compassion (2019). Dr. Rao is a Human, Earth and Animal Liberation (HEAL) activist, husband, dad and since 2010, a star-struck grandfather. He has promised his granddaughter, Kimaya, that the world will be largely Vegan before she turns 16 in 2026, so that people will stop eating her relatives, the animals. He has faith that humanity will transform to keep his pinky promise to Kimaya, not just for ethical reasons, but also out of sheer ecological necessity.   ============================== FOLLOW PLANT BASED BRIEFING ON: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@plantbasedbriefing     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GONW0q2EDJMzqhuwuxdCF?si=2a20c247461d4ad7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-based-briefing/id1562925866 Your podcast app of choice: https://pod.link/1562925866 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlantBasedBriefing   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-briefing/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedbriefing/     

Simple things can play big roles in keeping livestock comfortable and healthy. Dairy farmers are constantly looking for ways to improve cow comfort, cleanliness, and overall farm efficiency. Charitee Seebecker talks withRenee Schrift, Global Director of Sales for Agricultural Systems at McLanahan Corporation, and shares valuable insights on how sand bedding plays a critical role in achieving these goals. From choosing the right sand to ingmaximiz the benefits of reclamation, Schrift explains how farmers can enhance their operations while keeping cows happy and healthy.Schools remain closed in light of the subzero weather Wisconsin's dealing with. Stu Muck holds out hope that the temperatures will moderate beginning Wednesday. Monday marked the end of another tenure of service for USDA Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack. At 74, he makes comments about how he hopes he's influenced the agency and its impression in the community. Rod Bain with USDA chats with the secretary. Markets are robust on a post-inauguration Tuesday. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend joins Pam Jahnke to explain what areas of optimism are spilling over into trading.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

On this special holiday edition of Agriculture Today, we'll hear an exclusive interview with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack conducted by Brownfield's Meghan Grebner, and Brent Barnett catches up on winter farm work with eastern Iowa farmer Lance Lillibridge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Agriculture Today, we will learn about the latest situation in D.C. regarding the chaos around the continuing resolution, an exclusive with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and his take on the government funding bill situation and how farmers could be impacted, an outlook for U.S. farm machinery sales, and whether Congress plans to address Proposition 12 in 2025.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Secretary of Agriculture talks to Mark about the progress we've made in farming and agriculture in the last decade, debunking the "all farms are the same" myth and exactly why it's so important to support small farmers; the new opportunities that have been created in the farming space; why he's so concerned about rebuilding rural populations; and where the real opportunities lie.Are you liking Food with Mark Bittman? Got feedback? We'd love it if you'd take our (brief) survey: http://bit.ly/foodwithmarkbittman-survey. Thanks for listening!Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.Questions or comments? Email food@markbittman.com. And if you have a minute, we'd love it if you'd take a short survey about our show! Head here: http://bit.ly/foodwithmarkbittman-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Agriculture Today, we will learn about the latest updates around the Pure Prairie Poultry situation with some comments from Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, H5N1 testing across the country, policy discussions around sustainable aviation fuel, harvest updates across the Midwest, and a look at the upcoming panel decision on Mexico's ban on GMO corn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Kelly Brownell in a conversation with Michael Dimock, Executive Director of Roots of Change, about transforming food systems through innovative policies. Discover how Roots of Change collaborates with various stakeholders to create nutrition incentive programs and support sustainable agriculture, focusing on community-first approaches. Learn about pioneering projects, insights into policy influence, and the future of agricultural practices. This episode provides an optimistic view of the evolving food system landscape and the potential for significant positive change. Interview Summary Why don't we begin by you explaining what Roots of Change does. What's the mission and role of the organization? Yes. We were originally founded by a group of philanthropic foundations that were very interested in food system change but had not seen much success in years. So we were really designed to be a catalyst to ignite the growth of what we would call the Good Food Movement. For 10 years, we were actually a philanthropic fund investing in different projects that built the power of the food movement. And then implemented projects that would catalyze change. That would show how you could scale change fairly rapidly by building collaboration. So that's really what we've been doing. And in 2013, the philanthropic fund ended, we'd spent down all the money. So we joined the Public Health Institute at that time because public health is such an incredibly important engine for food system change because the food system impacts public health so greatly. We've been since that time focused on policy change and implementing model demonstration projects. Thanks for that explanation. You talked about catalyzing change for transforming the food system. What sort of changes have you emphasized? We've been focused on a few key things. I would say that one of the most important for us has been healthy food access. And doing that through the creation of nutrition incentive programs. And the reason we're interested in that is, all the changes that we pursue are aimed to hit several different levers of change simultaneously. By building nutrition incentive programs, you help the small and midsize farmers who are supplying local grocery stores, the farmers markets, and at the same time, you're creating the funding for low-income families to actually purchase organic, regenerative, sustainable agriculture. From their local market. You get a lot of payoff for that kind of action. You mentioned incentives. How do incentives fit into this? There is a program, a federal program called the GUSNIP. Named after Gus Schumacher, who was Undersecretary at USDA during the Clinton years, and actually worked with us early on. And so that program is a pool of funding through the Farm Bill that is given as grants to either states or nonprofits that are creating these programs where a family comes in with their SNAP benefits, and their purchasing power is doubled. They're given matching dollars to buy fruits and vegetables from a farmer's market, a local store, grocery store. So it's an incentive to purchase fresh nutritious food. And so, we have worked on the original federal policy. We're one of the first demonstration projects to show how you do nutrition incentives working with folks in the upper Midwest and in the East. And then we created an analog. California also has a matching fund which helps us pull more money from the federal level. So, we can really get a big impact at the local level. And we built that California program as well. We've been really deep in nutrition incentives. But we also work on farmer farmworker protections from heat. It's a big problem out here in the West. Increasing temperatures. We're working with different scientists, epidemiologists, and farmers to figure out best management practices or technologies that keep farmers cool. And then we also work on programs to provide incentives for ranchers to produce regenerative meat, that is grass-finished meat. So, those are the three areas working in right now. But we're also just starting a project. I have a meeting today with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to develop a plan for mid and small-scale infrastructure for regional food systems in the state of California to be achieved by 2040. One thing I really like about your approach is the lining up of incentives to produce food in a way that's better for both human health and the environment. Because so many incentives are lined up the other way. Obviously, the food industry wants to make as much money as they can, and that comes from highly processed foods that aren't very good for health. And then the same sort of incentives lines up for agriculture to do industrial forms of agriculture where you maximize the yield per acre. To turn that around is really going to be a major effort. One thing I like about your approach is that you're trying different things that can become models for what could be used in a very broad scale in terms of public policy. I really admire that and like what you're doing. Do you have an overall strategy for helping bring about change? One of the things that we did in 2010-11 is we did a deep analysis of the food system and did a systems dynamic map of the entire food system. Working with leaders, Secretary of Agriculture for California, farmers - big size, small size, organic, conventional, with food justice folks. And we looked at where are the real intervention points. One of the things that we really realize is that, as you were pointing out, the current incentives are for industrialization, basically. And so, the question is, how do you actually change that? And policy is one important lever for doing that. So, we work a lot on trying to change the policy levers to create incentives for what we would call healthy and resilient agriculture. Tell me more about how you go about doing that. I'd love to hear when you're done with that, how you go about doing that with policymakers. Well, I'll jump right in on that. Let's look at what we did with nutrition incentives. So, working with Fair Food Network out of the upper Midwest, and Wholesome Wave out East, Roots of Change did a study. We created our own nutrition incentive programs using philanthropic dollars and some USDA kind of innovative dollars, and then we studied it for two years, what the impacts were. We wrote a report then, which went to Congress, to Debbie Stabenow in Minnesota, who was the Senator there who was on the ag committee. And she began writing a bill that would say, okay, let's provide incentives for people to buy healthy food that also helped the small farmers. So that switched the incentive from the big agricultural systems to the regional food system players. That was one way we did it. The other thing that we did in California was we organized all the farmers markets to go to the State of California and say, look, if you provide this nutrition incentive program in California and analog, we'll pull down more dollars from the federal government. The California legislature said that's a great idea. They got on board. Which then helped the farmers markets to provide more funding because farmers markets are often stressed. Too many markets, so there's problems. Competition between markets. So, to provide a new market, which is low-income families who are using nutrition incentives and their SNAP dollars, that was really important for the farmer's market. Those farmer's markets became another big piece of our strategy. Our way of making change was just to build collaborations, large collaborations of people. We work with many other nonprofits and farming groups in California to approach the legislature and over the last three years we've gotten $1.3 billion dollars in investments from the state of California into sustainable agriculture and food justice. Because we're able to build these large collaborations who convince the legislators who really care about votes that there's enough people out there want to see this happen. And we have just placed a billion-dollar request on the next bond, which will be in the next election, November. This November there's the climate bond. It's called a climate bond for the State of California. Ten billion dollars, one billion of that will be dedicated to nutrition, nutritional health, farm workers, and sustainable agriculture. So, in all ways, it's about getting enough voices. So, if you look at what we're really trying to do, we're trying to build the power of what we would call the Good Food Movement. Best of luck with that billion-dollar request. I really hope that goes through. You know, in the beginning of your response to my last question, you talked about a report that you did in concert with other organizations around the country and how that became influential in the policy process. Very often, some of the people in my orbit, scientists, wonder how they can help with this kind of thing and how they can do work that makes a difference. And I've often thought that speaking with people in the policy and advocacy world, like you, turns up some really interesting questions they could help address, if they knew what those questions were. But they often aren't having those conversations because they're mainly speaking to other scientists. That's one of the reasons why I so much like having people who approach things like you do on this podcast series. Scientists aren't our only listeners, but they're among them, and it's nice to give them ideas about how they can connect their work with what's going on out there on the ground in terms of policymaking. So, you emphasize putting people in communities first. What does that mean? And how does that play out in the work you do? It's a great segue from what you were just saying about the need to combine community voices with nonprofits and scientists, academics, and people who are good at research and who are good at analysis. Back to this idea of nutrition incentives that really grew out of what community groups were doing. The IRC (the International Rescue Committee) works with immigrants from Africa, primarily at that time who were coming into San Diego. And they were farmers, mostly. They were escaping violence, war, in their countries. And they came to San Diego and the IRC worked with them to create a farmer's market, and a farm - a community farm. And those folks were the ones that were saying, this program works. And this is a really good way to solve many problems at once. So, we were hearing from community members and the nonprofit that had created this model. So, it was a way of us understanding what was actually working on the ground. So that's one example. I can also say that in 2017, 2019 and 2020, we had terrible fires here in California. We also had all that followed with COVID in 2020. We were working with the University of California at Davis. Tom Tomich, who at that time was with the Ag Sustainability Institute at UC Davis. And we were doing research on how do you deal with climate change as small farmers? And what we realized is there was this moment in time when all of these things that have been piling up were impacting the ability to get meat. You'll remember that meat disappeared from shelves for a while because all the big plants that process meat in the Midwest were shut down due to COVID. So, what we did is then went out and we interviewed ranchers up and down the State of California, and we asked them, what do you need? And are you interested in finishing animals for grass-fed markets? Are you interested in building local markets? We got a lot of feedback that led to a white paper that Roots of Change published with the University of California at Davis and put out to the world. Which led to us getting a grant to actually take some of the suggestions and the recommendations we had gotten from the producers about what to do. What's that led to now? We have built a relationship with the University of California: ten campuses, five medical systems. They have committed to buy regenerative regional meat from the State of California. That grew out of a white paper, which was fed information by the ranchers on the ground, analyzed by academics and nonprofits, and delivered in a system that's now gotten the university to make a commitment. So, it's another example of just how you can mix all these great parties to get some sustainable change at a large scale? Now that leads me pretty nicely to what my next question. And it has to do with what's needed going forward and how do these things occur in more places in a bigger way than the places they are now. Now you mentioned, for example, the regenerative agriculture pledge that got made by the University of California system. That's a big enterprise. There are a lot of people that get touched by that system. So, that's a pretty impressive example of taking an idea that might've been smaller to begin with and then became bigger. Going forward, what kind of things are going to be needed to make that kind of thing happen more often? That's a really good question. Kelly, I think that one of it is communication. I mean, perhaps some somebody will hear this and reach out to us and say, how'd you do that? And then we'll say, well…and they'll tell us what they did and we'll learn from them. One of the things I'm really interested in, always been interested in, and one of the things that Roots of Change is focused on is trying to convene people to share information. Because you build partnerships when you share information. And those partnerships can become the engines for getting the policy makers or the corporations to change their modalities. How they're doing things. Because they realize, hey, the writing is on the wall. This has to happen. We need to figure out how to get there. And sometimes it's complex to get there because the food system is very complex. So, I would say that one of the things I'm really looking forward to is more cross collaboration. You know, we're living in the season of elections. We're hearing it on the news all the time. And the thing that drives the policy makers is whether or not they're going to be elected or reelected. And so, the more that we can convince them that there is a large majority of the public that wants to see these fundamental changes in the food system. We will have their support. We've seen it in California. We are getting incredible support from our Secretary of Agriculture, our governor, and our Secretary of Natural Resources. They work together to create things on the ground. I would say that the Tom Vilsack and Biden did a lot for regenerative agriculture, working on two big projects that have been funded by the USDA that will touch a thousand ranchers of bison and beef to get them to learn about, adapt, adopt, and then build new markets for their products. So that's an important piece. The other is the marketplace and companies want to sell their products. So, the more that consumers become discerning and what they're purchasing, the better off we're going to be. So, we have a podcast like you do. And what we're trying to do is just educate people about the connections between what they're doing and what the farmers and ranchers out there who are trying to do good work with the land and with health and with their workers. We just try to promote this idea of making good decisions about what they purchase. Tell us a little bit more about your podcast, which is called Flipping the Table. Tell us more about what you're trying to accomplish and the kind of people that you speak with. Well, it's similar to yours in a certain way, I would say. Because what I'm doing is interviewing the people that are doing the kinds of projects that we think are scaling change or could scale change. Or people who have a depth of understanding. So, the regenerative meat world, we've done a lot in the last few years. Talking to Nicolette Hahn Nyman, who wrote a couple of books about the meat system, with a great rancher up in Northern California, who advises other ranchers on how to finish their animals on grass in California in a dry environment. I just, today we dropped a podcast with Cole Mannix from the Old Salt Co op in Montana about the ranchers he's pulled together. The co op he's built that has a slaughter plant, restaurants, a meat shop, and has an online thing. And then they do a big, they do a big annual event in the summer during the solstice. So, you know, we're just trying to get voices who, like you are, who are, who are modeling and educating the public around what is happening. How much is actually happening. I've been in this world for 30 years almost, and I have to say, I have never been more optimistic about the scale of change, the accelerating speed of change, and the possibilities that lay ahead. BIO  Michael Dimock is an organizer and thought leader on food and farming systems and heads Roots of Change (ROC) a project of the Public Health Institute. ROC develops and campaigns for smart, incentive-based food and farm policies that position agriculture and food enterprises as solutions to critical challenges of the 21st century. Since 2006, Michael has been spawning and leading education and policy campaigns, community dialogues and creative engagements with government and corporate leaders to advance regenerative food and farm policies and practices that make agriculture and food enterprises solutions to critical public health challenges of the 21st century. His leadership has helped create one new law and funding program at the federal level and three new California laws that included two new funding programs and five successful budget requests. He began his career in 1989 as a sales executive in Europe for agribusiness and in 1992 founded Ag Innovations Network to provide strategic planning for companies and governments seeking healthier food and agriculture. In 1996, he founded Slow Food Russian River and, from 2002 to 2007, he was Chairman of Slow Food USA and a member of Slow Food International's board of directors. Michael's love for agriculture and food systems grew from experiences on a 13,000-acre cattle ranch in Santa Clara County in his youth and a development project with Himalayan subsistence farmers in Nepal in 1979. He is the host of the podcast Flipping the Table featuring honest conversations about food, farms and the future. 

Something different for the podcast--host Stephen Winzenburg is interviewed on fellow WHO talk show host Jan Mickelson's show for a humorous episode that analyzes a raw meat-eating Iowa couple on ABC's reality show "Wife Swap" that traded farm life with a high-class black family from San Francisco. In the middle of the show former governor Tom Vilsack announces he is quitting his 2007 run for the White House. The conversation turns to how the media stereotype Iowans as "hick" and "rural."

Joint Oversight Hearing: “Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities” Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture of the Committee on Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations Date: Wed, 09/11/2024 – 10:00 AM Location: Capitol Complex, 1300 LHOB, Washington, DC, 20515, USA Witnesses Panel I The Honorable Darrell G. Seki Sr. Chairman Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Red Lake, Minnesota Ms. Marty Wafford Under Secretary of Support and Programs Chickasaw Nation Department of Health Ada, Oklahoma Ms. Mary Greene-Trottier President National Association of Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations Spirit Lake Tribe Fort Totten, North Dakota Panel II The Honorable Thomas Vilsack Secretary Department of Agriculture Accompanied by: Ms. Cindy Long Deputy Under Secretary Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Mr. Bruce Summers Administrator Agricultural Marketing Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Committee Notices: https://agriculture.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=7808 https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/joint-oversight-hearing-severe-food-distribution-shortages-tribal-and-elderly

On this episode, the Farm Progress Show was held this week in Boone, Iowa, and we hear from show manager Don Tourte about what this year's show offered. Also, the U.S.'s ag trade deficit continues to grow and we'll delve into the “why.” And, the USDA's Climate Smart Commodities Program continues to grow, and this week U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Wisconsin this week to tout some of the latest developments. Cover crops are an important part of that program and this week we find out how they play a role in keeping moisture in the soil. Also, we revisit the Pro Farmer Crop Tour with a look at Eastern Leg results. And, DEKALB is back as a key partner in one of the most iconic baseball movie settings in Cinematic history: the “Field of Dreams” diamond in Dyersville, Iowa. We also take you to San Francisco, where United Soybean Board leaders met recently to share their story with global buyers to educate them on U.S. soybean farming. In our “Meat Monitor” segment, we learn more about efforts to build trade relations between the U.S. and Colombia, and in “Bushels and Cents,” Ray Bohacz discusses the importance of flushing sprayers after use. The episode also features the music of hit singer/songwriter Randy C. Moore, whose latest single is a tribute to the originator of the Parrot Head lifestyle, Jimmy Buffett. Timestamps Intro and news: 0:00 Don Tourte, Farm Progress Show: 6:31 Betty Resnick, American Farm Bureau Federation: 8:02 Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 10:00 Jimmy Emmons, Dewey County Conservation District, Oklahoma: 10:51 Brian Grete, Mark Bernard, Mike Zuzolo, ProFarmer Crop Tour: 12:34 Jamie Horton, DEKALB: 14:52 April Hemmes, United Soybean Board: 16:24 Courtney Heller, U.S. Meat Export Federation: 20:18 Ray Bohacz, “Bushels and Cents”: 23:32 Randy C. Moore: 25:10

On the HAT Podcast Eric Pfeiffer and C.J. Miller have the news including a message for those prepping for livestock at 4-H fairs from the state board of animal health and Tom Vilsack on what he calls a lack of practicality from Republicans on their farm bill write-up. HAT Chief Meteorologist Ryan Martin calls for warmer and maybe wetter weather, and Thursday corn and soybean futures moved lower ahead of today's USDA's reports. Andy Eubank has the numbers and Mike Silver has commentary on the #HATPodcast, made possible by First Farmers Bank & Trust - experience banking built on heart, grit, and agriculture. Visit FFBT.com to learn more or stop by your local branch to talk about your ag operation today.

From poultry to dairy, the H5N1 virus has very different impacts.

Two Wisconsin wedding barn/event owners are suing the state over a pending law that reclassifies them as "public".  Pam Jahnke visits with Lucas Vebber, deputy attorney for the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL).  He explains the suit they're bringing versus the state.U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, visited Wisconsin on Thursday.  He had a chance to visit the Dairy Dreams operation in Casco.  Vilsack explains why the visit was important, since the farm received some USDA grant monies to launch an organic fertilizer operation from their dairy manure.  JJ Pagel is one of the owners and operators of Dairy Dreams.  He expressed his concerns to the secretary about lagging Farm Bill progress. Saturday the Green County Ag Chest will kickoff Wisconsin's June Dairy celebrations.  Charitee Seebecker took a trip to the Monticello area to visit with dairy hosts, Jeff and Julie Nimtz.Drone swarms - it's a phrase that can conjure up visions of science fiction monsters.  In reality it's more like a swarm of insects.  Stephanie Hoff visits with co-founder/co-owner, Preston Rice from Madison Area Drone Service.  He's excited about the possibilities that "swarms" could bring for production agriculture.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farm Talk Segment - Tom Vilsack USDA Ag Sec. on the New Greet Model at Washington Watch

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says grocery store prices are improving. He talked about the impact of inflation on farming and commodities with host Sonali Basak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear how the source of the mysterious dairy cow disease has been discovered. We head the largest seedstock supplier and have the latest in news and markets. It's all wrapped into this all new  episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. EPISODE 178 DETAILS The mysterious dairy cow disease has been identified as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Find out what the State of Texas is doing and how are the markets reacting to this news.   We head to Beef Magazine's Largest Seedstock Supplier, Jorgensen Land & Cattle. We hear the philosophy and management style of how this family owned farm and ranch has the ability to market over 6,000 bulls annually.  JORGENSEN LAND & CATTLE: Largest Seedstock Supplier Beef Magazine Says Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota is the Largest Seedstock Supplier Jorgensen Land & Cattle markets over 6,000 bulls annually through a number of different channels and with the cooperation of 16 genetic partners.  Their success is based on the success of these genetic partners and through the hard work and dedication of 4 generations committed to this family owned business. OPTIMIZE HERD SUCCESS: JORGENSEN LAND & CATTLE For over six decades, Jorgensen Land & Cattle has been a trusted partner in helping cattlemen build superior cow herds. Whether leasing or purchasing a bull, you'll benefit from our extensive experience and commitment to excellence. With a wide selection of bulls boasting superior genetics, backed by unparalleled support, we ensure a hassle-free breeding season and minimize your risk. As the largest seller of bulls in the U.S., recognized by BEEF Magazine's Seedstock 100 List; Jorgensen Land & Cattle guarantee the best of everything for your herd's success.   JORGENSEN LAND & CATTLE COMPANY MAKE BUYING BULLS EASY The Advantages of Leasing a Jorgensen ‘Top Cut' Angus Bull for Breeding Season. If you're a bull owner, it's crucial to start preparations 30 to 60 days prior to turn-out. This involves maintaining their optimal weight, ensuring sound health, and conducting a BSE test by a veterinarian. Alternatively, entrusting Jorgensen Land & Cattle with these tasks means we handle all the necessary preparations and deliver bulls directly to a location convenient for you. Ensuring the success of your breeding season hinges on the health, condition, and soundness of your bull. Our bulls are ready to begin work immediately upon arrival, eliminating any delay. Furthermore, we offer the added benefit of providing a replacement bull at no additional cost if any of our bulls sustain injuries during the breeding season.   UNLOCKING EFFICIENCY: DISCOVER ADVANTAGES OF SmartBulls®  Are you seeking a streamlined approach to cattle breeding that minimizes the need for extensive bull care? Look no further than SmartBulls®. Regular monitoring of young future herd sire bulls' body condition is essential as they undergo growth and require additional feed supplements to maintain optimal breeding fitness. With Jorgensen Land & Cattle SmartBulls®, you can eliminate the need for constant pampering. These Angus bulls are matured and equipped to efficiently breed your cow herd without the fuss of extensive care requirements.   UNRIVALED GENETICS: THE LEGACY OF JORGENSEN'S LINE-BREEDING PROGRAM Embark on a journey through time and excellence with our superior genetics. Our lineage traces back to the visionary practices of Martin Jorgensen, Jr., who embraced the groundbreaking beef cattle performance breeding principles pioneered by Dr. Jay Lush of Iowa State University in the 1950s. Over the decades, the Jorgensen cattle herd has flourished into one of the nation's premier line-bred Angus herds. Central to our success is the unwavering commitment to performance evaluation and stringent selection criteria. At Jorgensen Land & Cattle, we meticulously assess traits crucial for reproductive prowess, rapid growth, efficient feed conversion, and superior carcass quality. Through generations of dedicated selection, Jorgensen Land & Cattle has forged a path of genetic advancement unparalleled in the cattle industry. Harnessing Angus bulls selected for optimal feed conversion not only enhances profitability but also enables the efficient utilization of land, allowing you to maximize your cattle herd size and elevate your bottom line. We welcome you to join us in-person or online April 15th for the Jorgensen Land & Cattle 52nd Annual 2024 Top Cut Angus Bull Sale.  Sale Location: The Jorgensen Farm of Jorgensen Land & Cattle, 31250 265th St., Ideal, South Dakota 57541-9230 Date: April 15, 2024 Time: 1:00 PM CST   COW COUNTRY NEWS Mysterious Dairy Cow Disease Has Been Identified A mysterious disease has been working its way through the Texas Panhandle, puzzling the agriculture industry. Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller received confirmation from the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that the mystery disease has been identified as a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) commonly known as Bird Flu. To date, three dairies in Texas and one in Kansas have tested positive for HPAI. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is vigilantly monitoring this outbreak. The Texas dairy industry contributes roughly $50 billion in economic activity across the state. Texas also ranks fourth in milk production nationwide and continues to be a key player in the dairy industry. Commissioner Miller wants to assure consumers that rigorous safety measures and pasteurization protocols ensure that dairy products remain unaffected by HPAI. The Texas dairy industry maintains strict standards to ensure the safety of every product. Commissioner Miller said “There is no threat to the public and there will be no supply shortages”. Miller went on to say that no contaminated milk is known to have entered the food chain; it has all been dumped. In the rare event that some affected milk enters the food chain, the pasteurization process will kill the virus. Cattle impacted by HPAI exhibit flu-like symptoms including fever and thick and discolored milk accompanied by a sharp reduction in milk production averaging between 10-30 pounds per cow throughout the herd. Economic impacts to facilities are ongoing as herds that are greatly impacted may lose up to 40% of their milk production for 7 to 10 days until symptoms subside. It is vital that dairy facilities nationwide practice heightened biosecurity measures to mitigate further spread. Texas dairies are strongly advised to use all standard biosecurity measures including restricting access to essential personnel only, disinfecting all vehicles entering and leaving premises, isolating affected cattle, and destroying all contaminated milk. Additionally, it is important to clean and disinfect all livestock watering devices and isolate drinking water where it might be contaminated by waterfowl. Farmers are asked to notify their herd veterinarian if they suspect any cattle within their herd are displaying symptoms of this condition.   Senate Resolution Protects U.S. Cattle Herd from Foreign Animal Disease The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) thanked the U.S. Senate for passing a resolution to block Paraguayan beef imports. The resolution comes in response to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that lifted the longstanding ban on Paraguayan beef imports despite the country's concerning animal health track record. NCBA has repeatedly raised concerns with Paraguayan beef imports since the proposed rule was issued last year. NCBA specifically called out the outdated animal health data used to reach this decision. “We are greatly concerned that the U.S. government relied on 9-year-old data and site visits from 2008 and 2014 to justify access for Paraguayan beef imports” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “We should never rely on old information to make important decisions that could put the health and safety of the U.S. cattle herd at risk. NCBA has maintained from the beginning that USDA should not have proceeded with this rule without current information to accurately assess Paraguay's ability to meet our strong animal health standards. We are extremely appreciative of the Senate demonstrating strong bipartisan support to block this rule, and we urge the House to advance this legislation as soon as possible.”   USDA Predicts Rise In Australian Beef To U.S. The USDA predicted Australian beef exports to rise 9% as herd numbers continue to increase, according to a report this week. The U.S., South Korea, China and Japan – all among Australia's historically strongest export markets – are likely to be the first to receive the expanded supply, the USDA predicted. Herds have largely recovered from the drought of 2017 to 2019, so exports of live cattle are also likely to rise, by as much as 36%. An unexpectedly wet 2024 summer partially explains the boost in supply. Feed production is up, especially in the country's northern areas, where much of its cattle production is located. That has buoyed birth rates and is likely to continue into 2025, the USDA said.   Cattle Imports From Mexico U.S. cattle and beef trade with Mexico has evolved a great deal over many years. Mexico became one of the major beef export destinations about 25 years ago. In the last dozen years, Mexico has become one of the major beef import sources for the U.S. as beef trade evolved from simply supplementing deficit beef production in Mexico to bilateral, product specific trade between the two countries. One of the oldest components of U.S. beef industry trade with Mexico has been the importation of live cattle. Mexico's extensive range resources have provided the country with a comparative advantage in feeder cattle production for many years. Imports of Mexican cattle have averaged over 1 million head annually for the last 40 years. Many of the Mexican cattle imports enter stocker programs in the U.S. prior to feedlot finishing, although some are placed in feedlots directly upon arrival in the U.S. In 2023, imports of cattle from Mexico increased 43 percent year over year. However, the large percentage increase was in comparison to the very low level in 2022. Imports of Mexican cattle in 2022 were the lowest since 2008. Flows of Mexican cattle into the U.S. market vary from year to year because of numerous factors in both countries including relative cattle numbers and cattle prices; beef market conditions; drought; and currency exchange rates. It should be noted that the U.S. does export some live cattle to Mexico, mostly breeding animals. For the past 25 years, an average of 43,000 head have been exported annually, making cattle exports about 4.3 percent of the level of cattle imports from Mexico. In 2022, over 103,000 head of cattle were exported to Mexico, the highest total since 2002.   UPCOMING BULL SALES ANGUS CHAROLAIS HEREFORD GELBVIEH BALANCER RED ANGUS SIMMENTAL SIMANGUS   Vollmer Angus Ranch: April 2, 2024, Wing, North Dakota A & B Cattle:  April 4, 2024, Bassett, Nebraska Carter Angus Farms: April 7, 2024, Vermillion, South Dakota Montgomery Ranch: April 13, 2024, Carrington, North Dakota Jorgensen Farms:  April 15, 2024, Ideal, South Dakota DLCC Ranch:  April 20, 2024, Pierz, Minnesota BULL SALE REPORT & RESULTS Churchill Cattle Company Van Newkirk Herefords Gardiner Angus Ranch Cow Camp Ranch Jungels Shorthorn Farms Ellingson Angus Edgar Brothers Angus Schaff Angus Valley Prairie Hills Gelbvieh Clear Springs Cattle Company CK Cattle Mrnak Hereford Ranch Frey Angus Ranch Hoffmann Angus Farms Topp Herefords River Creek Farms Upstream Ranch Gustin's Diamond D Gelbvieh Schiefelbein Farms Wasem Red Angus Raven Angus Krebs Ranch Yon Family Farms Chestnut Angus Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus Windy Creek Cattle Company Pedersen Broken Heart Ranch Mar Mac Farms Warner Beef Genetics Arda Farms & Freeway Angus Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus Fast - Dohrmann - Strommen RBM Livestock Weber Land & Cattle Sundsbak Farms Hidden Angus Wheatland Cattle Company Miller Angus Farms L 83 Ranch U2 Ranch   FEATURING Derek Thompson NextGen Cattle Company https://www.nextgencattle.com/ @nextgencattle   Bryce Kelley Ritchey Livestock ID https://ritcheytags.com/ @RitcheyLivestockID   Kirk Donsbach: Stone X Financial https://www.stonex.com/   @StoneXGroupInc      John Fischer Stockmen's Livestock Exchange, Inc. http://www.gostockmens.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095025190101&sk=photos https://www.cattleusa.com/   Mark Van Zee  Livestock Market, Equine Market, Auction Time https://www.auctiontime.com/ https://www.livestockmarket.com/ https://www.equinemarket.com/ @LivestockMkt @EquineMkt @AuctionTime   Shaye Koester Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ @cattleconvos   Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email RanchItUpShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast available on ALL podcasting apps. Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/ #RanchItUp #StayRanchy #TiggerApproved #tiggerandbec #rodeo #ranching #farming References https://www.stonex.com/ https://www.livestockmarket.com/ https://www.equinemarket.com/ https://www.auctiontime.com/ https://gelbvieh.org/ https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ https://westwayfeed.com/ https://medoraboot.com/ http://www.gostockmens.com/ https://ranchchannel.com/ https://jorgensenfarms.com/ https://www.dlccranch.com/ https://www.ncba.org/ncba-news/news-releases/news/details/35681/ncba-again-strongly-opposes-usdas-decision-to-allow-paraguayan-beef-imports https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/62?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22S.J.Res.62%22%7D&s=1&r=1 https://www.ncba.org/Media/NCBAorg/Docs/ncba-comments-aphis-2018-0007-paraguay-beef-imports-05262023.pdf https://www.texasagriculture.gov/News-Events/Article/9950/COMMISSIONER-MILLER-SAYS-MYSTERY-DAIRY-COW-DISEASE-HAS-BEEN-IDENTIFIED https://www.feedstuffs.com/dairy/mystery-dairy-cow-disease-confirmed-as-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/113913 https://www.tsln.com/news/derrell-peel-cattle-imports-from-mexico/

Today -  The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has officially declared the 2023 cherry harvest a disaster. So what does that mean for farmers in Washington? And later - Wenatchee Police Chief Steve Crown, has announced his retirement after an eight-year tenure.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sec. Tom Vilsack; former Congressman Collin Peterson; NASDA CEO Ted McKinney; former NRCS Chief Bruce Knight, Strategic Conservation Solutions; Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta; Daren Coppock, Ag Retailers; Tim Trotter, Edge Dairy Cooperative; Tara Smith, Torrey Advisory Group; Curt Blades, AEM.  

Monday, U.S. ag secretary Tom Vilsack released the final wording of the “Product of U.S.A.” label requirements as it relates to several products, including beef and pork. Though voluntary, the rule is as restrictive — or more — than the mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) requirements that spawned years and years of trade disputes... Read More

The latest Census of Agriculture data is out from the USDA, and Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture, is calling it a "wakeup call." Pam Lewison, Center for Agriculture Director at the Washington Policy Center, says in many ways, the situation is even worse in Washington state than it is nationally, and joins Dillon with details.

US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, was recently in Tennessee participating in a town hall hosted by RFD TV. Vilsack laid out the Biden Administrations view for moving agriculture forward and took Tennessee farmers questions. Thomas Capps US Secretary of Agriculture talks with Tennessee farmers. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I'm Thomas Capps. Tom Vilsack American agriculture is one of the great gifts of this country. But I want to make sure that every farm regardless of size, has the ability to do what they love to do. And more importantly, and as importantly, they have the ability to transfer to the next generation. Thomas Capps US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack was recently in Tennessee talking with farmers at a town hall hosted by RFD TV. Vilsack laid out the Biden administration's vision for the industry moving forward and answered the Tennessee farmers questions. Vilsack believes expanding opportunities and making farming more profitable will help keep more people in the industry and sustain it for the next generation. Tom Vilsack We need production agriculture, but we also need a companion system that enables that small and mid sized operation to have multiple ways in which they get money from that farming operation so that they can stay viable. Farmers are the best stewards of the land, we just want to make sure that they continue and that have the resources and the ability to do that, and that they get a market advantage. And that is by by virtue of being able to measure, quantify and verify the results. They can participate in other revenue generating opportunities with ecosystem service markets that we create through our rural development programs and through our various economic development programs, more processing capacity so that you can process that agricultural waste into a million different things. Thomas Capps Vilsack also believes there are many opportunities for farmers to sell their products directly to consumers. Tom Vilsack People really are anxious to know where their food comes from. They like the idea when they go to a grocery store that they can buy local. They like the idea that their kids are consuming locally produced items at school. They love the idea of Farm to School, they love the idea of of the local restaurant being able to say you know this chicken wing is from you know, this, farmer and this pork chop is from that farmer. We need to do more of that. Thomas Capps For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I'm Thomas Capps.

Country of origin labelling of beef in the U.S. seems to be an issue that never seems to go away entirely, even with settled trade disputes. The most recent move towards some form of COOL is gaining momentum in the U.S., though agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has said any labelling must be trade compliant. Dennis... Read More

Electric cooperatives across the country are jumping at the chance to get billions of dollars under a new federal program that aims to bring more clean energy to rural America – a sign that some utilities in those communities, which have been among biggest coal users, are viewing wind and solar power more favorably despite the conservative backlash. POLITICO's Catherine Morehouse breaks down why co-ops see this federal program as a game-changing opportunity. Plus, Stellantis announced it would build another massive joint venture battery plant with Samsung SDI in Kokomo, Indiana.    For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro:  https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy   Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of the POLITICO Energy podcast. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, visited Wisconsin to celebrate the government's investment in "Climate Smart Commodities".  Stephanie Hoff poses the question of why agriculture is getting so much attention, and responsibility, for such a big issue.  Vilsack says it's all about the resources that agriculture has available to manage.Foreign land ownership in Wisconsin is getting a closer look by the State Agriculture Committee.  Rep. Travis Tranel, who chairs the committee, says several bills have been proposed but he wants to slow it down, and pay attention to details.  Stephanie Hoff brings the update.Consumers are already sensitive at the grocery store, and certain areas of agriculture are feeling it.  John Hineberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend, says dairy's the first commodity to feel it in prices.  Hineberg also notes that the beef industry continues to be in a tough spot.  Cattle numbers remain low, and that's not a trend that can be rectified quickly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are some skilled professionals that agriculture depends on who are thinning in population.  One such group - sheep/goat shearers.  Joe Huber has been shearing sheep and goats for years.  He visits with Nate Zimdars about the state of the industry currently, and what he sees for the near future.U.S. Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, made a stop in Wisconsin yesterday to celebrate the first anniversary of "The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program".  Vilsack tells Stephanie Hoff about agriculture's unique opportunity and advantage in helping save the planet by working toward being the first carbon neutral industry.Bryce Windecker from EverAg steps in with Pam Jahnke to focus on all things dairy.  He's keeping an eye on cheese prices and world demand overall of dairy.  Windecker says as long as that Asian export market remains soft, product could start stacking up even with the holiday buying pattern coming up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. We also go one-on-one with AGCO Chairman, President and CEO Eric Hansotia, who talks about the past, present and future of one of the world's largest farm equipment manufacturers. We also talk with Clarksville Creative Sound recording artist EV Mae, who performed at the Farm Progress Show, and in “Bushels and Cents,” Ray Bohacz discusses cabin air filters. The episode also features the new single, “Powder Keg,” from Clarksville Creative Sound recording artist Mackynsie McKedy. Timestamps Intro/news: 0:00 Tom Vilsack, USDA: 6:05 Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation: 8:04 Eric Hansotia, AGCO: 10:09 Mike Howell, Nutrien: 19:53 EV Mae, Clarksville Creative Sound: 27:45 Ray Bohacz, “Bushels and Cents”: 37:14 Mackynsie McKedy: 38:41

The Agriculture Department is pouring $3 billion into a program that pays farmers to test out climate-friendly practices instead of forcing them to pay for excessive carbon emissions. The initiative has gained widespread support within the conservative farming industry, but some climate advocates aren't convinced it will help. POLITICO's Garrett Downs details why the program is popular with farmers and the pushback from those climate activists. Plus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration raised its U.S. oil production forecast for this year and next.    For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy   Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Garrett Downs is a food and agriculture reporter for POLITICO. Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Annie Rees is a senior audio producer-host at POLITICO.  Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

General CRP and Rural Energy Farm and Ranch Transition Conferences When to Castrate Calves   00:01:05 – General CRP and Rural Energy: We begin today's show with Nicole Welborn, Kansas Farm Service Agency agricultural program specialist, to discuss general CRP. Also joining is USDA's Rod Bain, Deborah Yocum, Tom Vilsack and Kamala Neal with information about a program to improve rural energy. Farmers.gov rd.usda.gov   00:12:05 – Farm and Ranch Transition Conferences: Ashlee Westerhold, the director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition at K-State, continues the show with an opportunity for north central Kansas producers to learn more about farm and ranch transitioning. Transition Conferences ashleecw@ksu.edu    00:23:05 – When to Castrate Calves: Concluding today's show is the Beef Cattle Institute's Ask the Experts with a conversation about when to castrate calves, joining is Brad White, Brian Lubbers and Bob Larson.     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

USDA secretary Tom Vilsack, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith 

Biosecurity and Rural Broadband Limited Forages Pests in Home Landscapes   00:01:05 – Biosecurity and Rural Broadband: Beginning today's show is Justin Smith, Kansas animal health commissioner, with important factors for people to consider when thinking about biosecurity. We are also joined by USDA's Gary Crawford and Tom Vilsack with information about USDA's rural broadband projects.  Biosecurity Resources from KDA   00:12:06 – Limited Forages: Next in the show is K-State Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner, he discusses what producers should consider if they are going to feed with limited forages. This could be an alternative feeding method due to current conditions. KSU Beef Beef Tips Newsletter Link to Tools   00:23:04 – Pests in Home Landscapes: K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd ends today's show with an update on several insect pests that are active in home landscapes, including bagworms and the elm leaf beetle.     Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan.

Progressives back Mike Johnston in Denver mayor's race | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs slate of clean energy bills | $11B in federal funds allocated for rural clean energy projects | Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis commission meets in Flagstaff, AZ (WARNING: contains graphic descriptions of violence) | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs nation's first Right-to-Repair law | Violent Femmes perform their self-titled debut in Denver, Austin and Houston this week.  Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Progressives back Mike Johnston in Denver mayor's raceBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 15, 2023 4:00 AMAs ballots begin to hit mailboxes for Denver's June 6th runoff election, Johnston and Kelly Brough, the other top-two finisher in April's first round of voting - have rolled out a veritable smorgasbord of endorsement announcements.Former mayoral candidates Ean Thomas Tafoya, Terrance Roberts, Jim Walsh, Al Gardner and Leslie Herod all endorsed Mike Johnston. Rep Herod (who was my preferred choice for mayor) said “Having shared countless debate and forum stages with Mike over the past months, I know that he has the passion, commitment, and vision to tackle Denver's toughest problems. Mike and I share the value of public service, hard work, and doing right by our communities, and I am excited to work with him to deliver on our progressive vision for Denver.”Meanwhile, Brough, the former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce head who secured her spot in the runoff with just over 20% of the first-round vote, has picked up endorsements from Democratic state Sen. Chris Hansen as well as Thomas Wolf, an investment banker who campaigned on harsh anti-homelessness policies and received 1% of the vote for Mayor in April.Sen. Hansen said “Denver needs a proven executive — Kelly Brough is the leader we can trust to deliver results. It's going to take all of us to tackle Denver's biggest challenges, and I'm proud to join Kelly's team.”Brough also picked up endorsements from Democratic state Rep. Alex Valdez and former Tattered Cover CEO Kwame Spearman, both of whom entered the mayor's race but later withdrew. Brough and Johnston emerged from the crowded field of mayoral candidates after becoming by far the race's two best-funded candidates, each raising about $1MM in direct contributions and benefiting from millions more in outside super PAC expenditures from billionaires and real-estate interests.After a first round that featured a wide range of perspectives and ideologies, the runoff campaign has featured few stark disagreements on policy between the two candidates, both of whom are veteran figures in Colorado's centrist political establishment.Brough served as then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's chief of staff from 2006 to 2009, then led the conservative-leaning Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce for 12 years before stepping down ahead of her mayoral run. Some of her top endorsers include former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, both Democrats.On Friday, she touted the endorsement of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, a coalition of clergy and civil rights leaders in the city's Black community. Pastor Paul Burleson, the Alliance's vice president of political affairs, said that Brough's experience is key to her appeal.Brough has also picked up endorsements from the Denver Police Protective Association and other unions representing law enforcement officers and firefighters. She was one of the only candidates in the mayor's race to endorse a return of “qualified immunity,” a legal doctrine that bars people from suing law enforcement officers in their individual capacity. Colorado lawmakers, led by Herod, passed a landmark police reform bill that abolished qualified immunity in the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020. - Just one reason I love Leslie Herod.During his time in the state Senate, Mike Johnston became one of the state's leading champions of education reform, a movement that has galled teachers' unions and progressives who've accused him of undermining public education. From 2020 to 2022 he was the CEO of Gary Community Ventures, a Denver-based philanthropic organization founded by oil tycoon Sam Gary.Though hardly a progressive firebrand himself, Johnston spoke at Wednesday's event of the coalition he hopes to build as mayor. Along with former mayoral rivals, he received endorsements from Democratic state Sens. Julie Gonzales (another legislator I have tremendous respect for) and James Coleman (who is my state senator but someone whom I don't know much about), adding to a list of supporters that also includes former Mayor Federico Peña and former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll.Rep. Leslie Herod said “Make no mistake: We are the progressives in this race, and we have chosen to back Mike. We are the candidates who have consistently spoken about putting people over structures, putting people over businesses — people always first.”So for my part I'll be following State Sen. Julie Gonzales and Rep. Leslie Herod, voting for Mike Johnston.Final thought: Johnston might not be seen as progressive, but if he wins this election assembling a progressive coalition to bear a developer/business-backed candidate in Kelly Brough, then progressives should absolutely have a strong voice in the Johnston administration if he wants to keep his job. But first he's got to win.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Gov. Jared Polis signs slate of clean energy measures, utility regulation billBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 11, 2023 5:36 PMGov. Jared Polis has signed into law a bill that commits Colorado for the first time to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target, along with other measures to address spiking utility rates and the state's long-term energy future.Flanked by Democratic lawmakers and state energy officials, Polis signed Senate Bill 23-16 at an event at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The bill, a wide-ranging package of reforms aimed at boosting clean energy efforts in a variety of industries, was approved on party-line votes by Democratic majorities in the General Assembly just before its adjournment on May 8.SB-16 sets a statutory goal of a 100% reduction in Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, revising that target upwards from a 90% goal set by the Legislature in 2019. It's the first time the state has formally established the net-zero goal that scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said is necessary to avert the most catastrophic impacts of global warming.To get there, the bill contains what sponsors called a “potpourri” of measures to accelerate the transition to clean energy, including sections that streamline the process for the installation of electric transmission lines and rooftop solar panels; stricter requirements on large insurance companies to assess climate risk; tax credits for the purchase of electric-powered lawn equipment; and more authority for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to regulate carbon capture projects.COGCC chair Jeff Robbins applauded the bill's efforts to encourage carbon capture, which he called “critical as a tool in addressing climate change.”“The COGCC is well poised with its resources and regulatory understanding to now help carbon storage be deployed safely and responsibly in Colorado,” Robbins said in a press release.Gov. Polis also signed House Bill 23-1252, which establishes a new state grant program for geothermal energy projects and requires large natural-gas utilities to develop emissions-reducing “clean heat plans.”Senate Bill 23-291, a package of reforms to state utility regulations, and House Bill 23-1234, a bipartisan measure aimed at streamlining permitting and inspection processes for solar projects were also both signed into law. SB-291 emerged from hearings held earlier this year by the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates, a special panel of lawmakers convened by Democratic leaders following sharp increases in many Coloradans' utility bills in 2022.It directs the state's Public Utilities Commission to more closely scrutinize how privately-owned utilities manage volatility in natural-gas prices, the main culprit in rate increases that caused the average monthly payment for customers of Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest utility, to rise by more than 50% last year. Other provisions in the bill are aimed at assessing the long-term future of natural gas infrastructure as more homes and businesses transition to all-electric heating and cooking appliances.In a press release, Advanced Energy United, an industry group representing clean energy companies, said the legislation creates a “national model” for dealing with volatility in the natural gas market.“This bill will help make Colorado's energy system more affordable long-term, and should be seen as a model for states across the country on how to manage high gas prices and a transition to cost-saving alternatives to gas, like high-efficiency heat pumps, rooftop solar and battery storage,” said Emilie Olson, a senior principal at Advanced Energy United.House Bill 23-1272, creates or extends a variety of clean energy tax credits, including incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, e-bikes, electric heat pumps, industrial decarbonization technologies and more.Gov. Polis said “These exciting money-saving changes for Coloradans mean reliable, lower energy costs and good-paying jobs, as we continue to fuel the innovation that makes Colorado a national leader in clean energy. We are cutting red tape, creating good paying jobs and improving air quality as we continue to make bold progress towards achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040.”ARIZONA MIRROR: Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loansBY: JACOB FISCHLER - MAY 16, 2023 7:11 AMThe U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin to administer two loan and grant programs worth nearly $11 billion to boost clean energy systems in rural areas, administration officials said Tuesday. The programs are the New ERA program for rural electric cooperatives, and the PACE program for other energy providers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the funding “continues an ongoing effort to ensure that rural America is a full participant in this clean energy economy.”White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said, “Rural areas can have more difficulty than more urban ones in attracting private sector investment. The programs are intended to allow those rural areas to take advantage of an industry-wide trend to invest in clean energy production.He said, “There's a favorable wind blowing here. This allows rural communities to put up a sail.”The programs are meant to put rural electric cooperatives on equal footing with larger privately owned companies that have already put major funding into clean energy deployment.The programs represent the largest single funding effort for rural electrification since President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936.The money is meant not only to address the climate impacts of fossil fuel energy and reduce home energy costs, but to act as an economic engine for rural areas.Rural electric cooperatives are eligible for the New ERA program, and up to 25% of the funding in that program can be in the form of direct grants. Utilities can use the money to build renewable energy systems, zero-emission systems and carbon capture facilities.The USDA will begin to accept initial applications for funding on July 31. Applicants are expected to write more detailed proposals for funding after the USDA accepts their initial applications.The PACE program provides loans to renewable energy developers and electric service providers “to help finance large-scale solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower projects and energy storage in support of renewable energy systems,” the release said. The program is targeted to “vulnerable, disadvantaged, Tribal and energy communities,” the release said. It's in line with a Biden administration goal to allocate at least 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal spending to disadvantaged communities.The USDA can forgive up to 40% of most of the loans in the program. Up to 60% of loans to applicants in some U.S. territories and tribal communities can be forgiven.Initial applications for that program will open June 30.ARIZONA MIRROR:National commission on the MMIP crisis meets in Arizona to hear testimony, recommendationsBY: SHONDIIN SILVERSMITH - MAY 15, 2023 1:50 PMFive empty chairs sat at the front of the Not Invisible Act Commission hearing, each wrapped in a shawl, blanket or quilt representing a different group of individuals impacted by human trafficking or with a loved one who is missing or murdered.“We want to allow space for representing our relatives,” commission member Grace Bulltail said, noting the traditions in many Indigenous families to always preserve a space for absent loved ones. “We're doing that to honor our loved ones,” Bulltail said, explaining that, by putting the chairs there, the commission hearing was holding space for them.The chair wrapped in a red shawl with white and yellow handprints honored the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The chair wrapped in a red, orange, bridge, and white Native design shawl with a black blazer draped over it was to honor the missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. Another chair was wrapped in a light blue, white and purple quilt. Pinned to the quilt was a picture of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike, a Navajo girl who was abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in 2016. This chair honored Indigenous children.The chair wrapped in a maroon shawl with floral designs honored the LGBTQI and two-spirit Indigenous community. The chair wrapped in a brown Pendleton honored Indigenous veterans.The Not Invisible Act Commission, organized by the U.S. Department of the Interior,  held a public hearing at the Twin Arrows Casino near Flagstaff to hear testimony and recommendations from victims and families impacted by human trafficking and the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. The commission also heard from local tribal leaders and advocates. The Not Invisible Act was passed into law in October 2020, establishing the commission as a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee of federal and non-federal members, including law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.The meeting at Twin Arrows was the commission's third public hearing. This summer, it has four more planned in Minnesota, northern California, New Mexico and Montana. The hearings are being held in communities impacted most by the MMIP crisis.Commissioners heard emotional testimony from Seraphine Warren and Pamela Foster as they shared their experiences of losing a loved one and advocated for change.Ms. Warren is the niece of Ella Mae Begay, a Navajo woman who went missing from her home in Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation on June 15, 2021. Warren continued to advocate for not only her aunt but all Indigenous people.Speaking through tears, she told her aunt's story. “I know it wasn't her legacy to be stolen or to be murdered,” Warren said. “Just because she isn't here doesn't mean she can't be part of change.”Begay is still missing, but there have been developments in her case. In March, Preston Henry Tolth, 23, of New Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix for assault and carjacking.The indictment alleges that, on June 15, 2021, Tolth assaulted Begay, resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Tolth then took her Ford F-150 pickup truck and drove it from Arizona to New Mexico with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to Begay.Warren said during Tolth's arraignment hearing on April 7 in Flagstaff that she heard details about the night her aunt went missing that she was not ready for.Warren, in tears, told the commission that Tolth told federal agents that he “snapped” and struck her in the face multiple times, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth. Tolth told authorities that he wasn't sure if she was dead, Warren said, and when he drove away, he said he regretted hitting her, since all he wanted was the truck.Tolth is being held in custody and is expected to go to trial later in May.Pamela Foster is the mother of Ashlynne Mike, the 11-year-old Navajo girl abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in 2016. Foster has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for Indigenous children and people since she lost her daughter. On the afternoon of May 2, 2016, Ashlynne Mike and her 9-year-old brother, Ian Mike, didn't make it home from school. When they got off the school bus in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, a predator tricked them into getting into his van by promising them a ride home.Hours later, passersby found Ian Mike wandering alone in the area. Police located Ashlynne Mike's body on May 3, 2016, and discovered she had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and bludgeoned repeatedly with a tire iron.She said, “I miss my daughter every single day. I became a voice for my daughter the moment I received word that her life was taken from her.”She talked about how the system failed when her children were missing in 2016. She said that May 1 to May 6 is a nightmare for her every year, because she relives what happened to her children.Foster talked about the hours from when her children disappeared to when they found her daughter's body; she ran into countless obstacles that left her without support.“It was very hard to sit there and know that there were no resources available for my children,” Foster said. “I absolutely had nothing.”She said local law enforcement was not adequately trained to handle child abductions. There was no clear communication between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Instead of searching for her children, Foster said they were trying to figure out exactly what protocols were needed to start looking.“Time was lost,” Foster said, and they did not send out an AMBER Alert until the following day. Foster recalled the alert went out at 2 a.m., and she said that helped no one because not many people were awake then. She remembers hearing officers from the neighboring jurisdictions tell her they couldn't go out to look for her daughter until they were given the clearance to do so by the Navajo Nation Police Department. Foster said it frustrated her how long it took for that to happen. She said the anger and hurt about what happened to Ashlynne led her to be a voice for her daughter.“I promised her I would do something for all of our other Indigenous children. To give them the protection that they need so they don't go through the same thing.”Foster has led many grassroots efforts to support Indigenous children, including advocating and petitioning for the AMBER Alert system to include Indian Country.Foster said she wanted to change, and she knew the justice system in Indian Country needed to be updated, so she focused her efforts on the AMBER Alert system. Her advocacy resulted in the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018, which makes tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants to integrate into state and regional AMBER Alert communication plans.“I always say that I've never received justice for what happened to my daughter because nothing can bring her back,” Foster said. “There will never be justice, but we can learn how to move forward in changing laws to make things better for our people.”The goal of the hearing was for the federal commissioners to listen and hear recommendations on the best course of action for the MMIP crisis. Commissioners will use the suggestions to develop their final report for the Department of Interior.Foster's big recommendation was not only geared at the commissioners, but other attendees of the hearing. She encouraged them to tell their tribal leaders to receive the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act training. “It is free,” she said, adding that it is a vital program for Indigenous communities because it will train police officers and social workers from the tribe. Because tribes are sovereign nations, the Department of Justice has to receive a request in order to run the training on tribal land: “Have your tribal leaders request this training for your community because the children are our next generation,” Foster said. “There's still a lot of tribes that need to be trained.”When Seraphine Warren was finished sharing her aunt's story, she laid out her recommendations. “Transparency and swift action is key,” she said, “which means that when a person is missing, law enforcement should immediately inform all jurisdictions and issue press releases to media channels to inform the public.”“Family members need to be regularly and constantly updated with the progress of the investigation, and families should be prioritized if any remains are found in any jurisdiction.” Some of the other recommendations included allowing families to hire private investigators, providing them access to case files, supporting families in organizing their task force, providing families with constant and reliable access to grief counseling services, medical attention, financial and legal assistance, and safe housing for families of missing or murdered loved ones. ASSOCIATED PRESS: If you're not first, you're last. DENVER (AP) — Sitting in front of a hulking red tractor, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines with a “right to repair” law — which compels manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and software farmers would need.Colorado, home to high desert ranches and sweeping farms on the plains, took the lead on the issue following a nationwide outcry from farmers that manufacturers blocked them from making fixes and forced them to wait precious days or even weeks for an official servicer to arrive — delays that hurt profits.While farmers wait and their increasingly high-tech tractors or combines sit idle, a hailstorm could decimate an entire crop. Or, a farmer could miss the ideal planting window for their crops to grow.Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation, including in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Vermont. But Colorado has taken the lead. At the signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, under a light drizzle of rain, Gov. Polis said: “This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money and support the free market in repair” before exclaiming, “first in the nation!”Behind the governor and arrayed farmers and lawmakers sat a red Steiger 370 tractor owned by a farmer named Danny Wood. Wood's tractor has flown an American flag reading “Farmers First,” and it has been one of two of his machines to break down, requiring long waits before servicers arrived to enter a few lines of computer code, or make a fix that Wood could have made himself.As the signing ceremony ended, Gov. Polis and Rep. Brianna Titone, who ran the bill in the state House, climbed inside the tractor for a photo as the ceremony ended.Great job, Rep. Titone! Huge win for this up-and-coming legislator. When I first saw her speak announcing her initial candidacy in 2017, I didn't know what to expect. Honestly, I didn't expect a lot, and I didn't particularly expect her to even win. And then, winning that seat was just the first of many instances where I've seen her demonstrate a level of depth, grit, and smarts that rival any of her peers. Great job Rep. Titone, you rock. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Violent Femmes - performing their self-titled album - Levitt Pavilion in Denver on Sunday May 21. The cult favorite folk punk band from Milwaukee is celebrating 40 years since the release of their first album in 1983. More info at vfemmes.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, Associated Press and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

Progressives back Mike Johnston in Denver mayor's race | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs slate of clean energy bills | $11B in federal funds allocated for rural clean energy projects | Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis commission meets in Flagstaff, AZ (WARNING: contains graphic descriptions of violence) | Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs nation's first Right-to-Repair law | Violent Femmes perform their self-titled debut in Denver, Austin and Houston this week.  Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: Progressives back Mike Johnston in Denver mayor's raceBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 15, 2023 4:00 AMAs ballots begin to hit mailboxes for Denver's June 6th runoff election, Johnston and Kelly Brough, the other top-two finisher in April's first round of voting - have rolled out a veritable smorgasbord of endorsement announcements.Former mayoral candidates Ean Thomas Tafoya, Terrance Roberts, Jim Walsh, Al Gardner and Leslie Herod all endorsed Mike Johnston. Rep Herod (who was my preferred choice for mayor) said “Having shared countless debate and forum stages with Mike over the past months, I know that he has the passion, commitment, and vision to tackle Denver's toughest problems. Mike and I share the value of public service, hard work, and doing right by our communities, and I am excited to work with him to deliver on our progressive vision for Denver.”Meanwhile, Brough, the former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce head who secured her spot in the runoff with just over 20% of the first-round vote, has picked up endorsements from Democratic state Sen. Chris Hansen as well as Thomas Wolf, an investment banker who campaigned on harsh anti-homelessness policies and received 1% of the vote for Mayor in April.Sen. Hansen said “Denver needs a proven executive — Kelly Brough is the leader we can trust to deliver results. It's going to take all of us to tackle Denver's biggest challenges, and I'm proud to join Kelly's team.”Brough also picked up endorsements from Democratic state Rep. Alex Valdez and former Tattered Cover CEO Kwame Spearman, both of whom entered the mayor's race but later withdrew. Brough and Johnston emerged from the crowded field of mayoral candidates after becoming by far the race's two best-funded candidates, each raising about $1MM in direct contributions and benefiting from millions more in outside super PAC expenditures from billionaires and real-estate interests.After a first round that featured a wide range of perspectives and ideologies, the runoff campaign has featured few stark disagreements on policy between the two candidates, both of whom are veteran figures in Colorado's centrist political establishment.Brough served as then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's chief of staff from 2006 to 2009, then led the conservative-leaning Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce for 12 years before stepping down ahead of her mayoral run. Some of her top endorsers include former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, both Democrats.On Friday, she touted the endorsement of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, a coalition of clergy and civil rights leaders in the city's Black community. Pastor Paul Burleson, the Alliance's vice president of political affairs, said that Brough's experience is key to her appeal.Brough has also picked up endorsements from the Denver Police Protective Association and other unions representing law enforcement officers and firefighters. She was one of the only candidates in the mayor's race to endorse a return of “qualified immunity,” a legal doctrine that bars people from suing law enforcement officers in their individual capacity. Colorado lawmakers, led by Herod, passed a landmark police reform bill that abolished qualified immunity in the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020. - Just one reason I love Leslie Herod.During his time in the state Senate, Mike Johnston became one of the state's leading champions of education reform, a movement that has galled teachers' unions and progressives who've accused him of undermining public education. From 2020 to 2022 he was the CEO of Gary Community Ventures, a Denver-based philanthropic organization founded by oil tycoon Sam Gary.Though hardly a progressive firebrand himself, Johnston spoke at Wednesday's event of the coalition he hopes to build as mayor. Along with former mayoral rivals, he received endorsements from Democratic state Sens. Julie Gonzales (another legislator I have tremendous respect for) and James Coleman (who is my state senator but someone whom I don't know much about), adding to a list of supporters that also includes former Mayor Federico Peña and former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll.Rep. Leslie Herod said “Make no mistake: We are the progressives in this race, and we have chosen to back Mike. We are the candidates who have consistently spoken about putting people over structures, putting people over businesses — people always first.”So for my part I'll be following State Sen. Julie Gonzales and Rep. Leslie Herod, voting for Mike Johnston.Final thought: Johnston might not be seen as progressive, but if he wins this election assembling a progressive coalition to bear a developer/business-backed candidate in Kelly Brough, then progressives should absolutely have a strong voice in the Johnston administration if he wants to keep his job. But first he's got to win.COLORADO NEWSLINE: Gov. Jared Polis signs slate of clean energy measures, utility regulation billBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 11, 2023 5:36 PMGov. Jared Polis has signed into law a bill that commits Colorado for the first time to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target, along with other measures to address spiking utility rates and the state's long-term energy future.Flanked by Democratic lawmakers and state energy officials, Polis signed Senate Bill 23-16 at an event at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The bill, a wide-ranging package of reforms aimed at boosting clean energy efforts in a variety of industries, was approved on party-line votes by Democratic majorities in the General Assembly just before its adjournment on May 8.SB-16 sets a statutory goal of a 100% reduction in Colorado's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, revising that target upwards from a 90% goal set by the Legislature in 2019. It's the first time the state has formally established the net-zero goal that scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said is necessary to avert the most catastrophic impacts of global warming.To get there, the bill contains what sponsors called a “potpourri” of measures to accelerate the transition to clean energy, including sections that streamline the process for the installation of electric transmission lines and rooftop solar panels; stricter requirements on large insurance companies to assess climate risk; tax credits for the purchase of electric-powered lawn equipment; and more authority for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to regulate carbon capture projects.COGCC chair Jeff Robbins applauded the bill's efforts to encourage carbon capture, which he called “critical as a tool in addressing climate change.”“The COGCC is well poised with its resources and regulatory understanding to now help carbon storage be deployed safely and responsibly in Colorado,” Robbins said in a press release.Gov. Polis also signed House Bill 23-1252, which establishes a new state grant program for geothermal energy projects and requires large natural-gas utilities to develop emissions-reducing “clean heat plans.”Senate Bill 23-291, a package of reforms to state utility regulations, and House Bill 23-1234, a bipartisan measure aimed at streamlining permitting and inspection processes for solar projects were also both signed into law. SB-291 emerged from hearings held earlier this year by the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates, a special panel of lawmakers convened by Democratic leaders following sharp increases in many Coloradans' utility bills in 2022.It directs the state's Public Utilities Commission to more closely scrutinize how privately-owned utilities manage volatility in natural-gas prices, the main culprit in rate increases that caused the average monthly payment for customers of Xcel Energy, Colorado's largest utility, to rise by more than 50% last year. Other provisions in the bill are aimed at assessing the long-term future of natural gas infrastructure as more homes and businesses transition to all-electric heating and cooking appliances.In a press release, Advanced Energy United, an industry group representing clean energy companies, said the legislation creates a “national model” for dealing with volatility in the natural gas market.“This bill will help make Colorado's energy system more affordable long-term, and should be seen as a model for states across the country on how to manage high gas prices and a transition to cost-saving alternatives to gas, like high-efficiency heat pumps, rooftop solar and battery storage,” said Emilie Olson, a senior principal at Advanced Energy United.House Bill 23-1272, creates or extends a variety of clean energy tax credits, including incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, e-bikes, electric heat pumps, industrial decarbonization technologies and more.Gov. Polis said “These exciting money-saving changes for Coloradans mean reliable, lower energy costs and good-paying jobs, as we continue to fuel the innovation that makes Colorado a national leader in clean energy. We are cutting red tape, creating good paying jobs and improving air quality as we continue to make bold progress towards achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040.”ARIZONA MIRROR: Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loansBY: JACOB FISCHLER - MAY 16, 2023 7:11 AMThe U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin to administer two loan and grant programs worth nearly $11 billion to boost clean energy systems in rural areas, administration officials said Tuesday. The programs are the New ERA program for rural electric cooperatives, and the PACE program for other energy providers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the funding “continues an ongoing effort to ensure that rural America is a full participant in this clean energy economy.”White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said, “Rural areas can have more difficulty than more urban ones in attracting private sector investment. The programs are intended to allow those rural areas to take advantage of an industry-wide trend to invest in clean energy production.He said, “There's a favorable wind blowing here. This allows rural communities to put up a sail.”The programs are meant to put rural electric cooperatives on equal footing with larger privately owned companies that have already put major funding into clean energy deployment.The programs represent the largest single funding effort for rural electrification since President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936.The money is meant not only to address the climate impacts of fossil fuel energy and reduce home energy costs, but to act as an economic engine for rural areas.Rural electric cooperatives are eligible for the New ERA program, and up to 25% of the funding in that program can be in the form of direct grants. Utilities can use the money to build renewable energy systems, zero-emission systems and carbon capture facilities.The USDA will begin to accept initial applications for funding on July 31. Applicants are expected to write more detailed proposals for funding after the USDA accepts their initial applications.The PACE program provides loans to renewable energy developers and electric service providers “to help finance large-scale solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower projects and energy storage in support of renewable energy systems,” the release said. The program is targeted to “vulnerable, disadvantaged, Tribal and energy communities,” the release said. It's in line with a Biden administration goal to allocate at least 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal spending to disadvantaged communities.The USDA can forgive up to 40% of most of the loans in the program. Up to 60% of loans to applicants in some U.S. territories and tribal communities can be forgiven.Initial applications for that program will open June 30.ARIZONA MIRROR:National commission on the MMIP crisis meets in Arizona to hear testimony, recommendationsBY: SHONDIIN SILVERSMITH - MAY 15, 2023 1:50 PMFive empty chairs sat at the front of the Not Invisible Act Commission hearing, each wrapped in a shawl, blanket or quilt representing a different group of individuals impacted by human trafficking or with a loved one who is missing or murdered.“We want to allow space for representing our relatives,” commission member Grace Bulltail said, noting the traditions in many Indigenous families to always preserve a space for absent loved ones. “We're doing that to honor our loved ones,” Bulltail said, explaining that, by putting the chairs there, the commission hearing was holding space for them.The chair wrapped in a red shawl with white and yellow handprints honored the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The chair wrapped in a red, orange, bridge, and white Native design shawl with a black blazer draped over it was to honor the missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. Another chair was wrapped in a light blue, white and purple quilt. Pinned to the quilt was a picture of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike, a Navajo girl who was abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in 2016. This chair honored Indigenous children.The chair wrapped in a maroon shawl with floral designs honored the LGBTQI and two-spirit Indigenous community. The chair wrapped in a brown Pendleton honored Indigenous veterans.The Not Invisible Act Commission, organized by the U.S. Department of the Interior,  held a public hearing at the Twin Arrows Casino near Flagstaff to hear testimony and recommendations from victims and families impacted by human trafficking and the missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis. The commission also heard from local tribal leaders and advocates. The Not Invisible Act was passed into law in October 2020, establishing the commission as a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee of federal and non-federal members, including law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors.The meeting at Twin Arrows was the commission's third public hearing. This summer, it has four more planned in Minnesota, northern California, New Mexico and Montana. The hearings are being held in communities impacted most by the MMIP crisis.Commissioners heard emotional testimony from Seraphine Warren and Pamela Foster as they shared their experiences of losing a loved one and advocated for change.Ms. Warren is the niece of Ella Mae Begay, a Navajo woman who went missing from her home in Sweetwater, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation on June 15, 2021. Warren continued to advocate for not only her aunt but all Indigenous people.Speaking through tears, she told her aunt's story. “I know it wasn't her legacy to be stolen or to be murdered,” Warren said. “Just because she isn't here doesn't mean she can't be part of change.”Begay is still missing, but there have been developments in her case. In March, Preston Henry Tolth, 23, of New Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix for assault and carjacking.The indictment alleges that, on June 15, 2021, Tolth assaulted Begay, resulting in serious bodily injury, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Tolth then took her Ford F-150 pickup truck and drove it from Arizona to New Mexico with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to Begay.Warren said during Tolth's arraignment hearing on April 7 in Flagstaff that she heard details about the night her aunt went missing that she was not ready for.Warren, in tears, told the commission that Tolth told federal agents that he “snapped” and struck her in the face multiple times, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth. Tolth told authorities that he wasn't sure if she was dead, Warren said, and when he drove away, he said he regretted hitting her, since all he wanted was the truck.Tolth is being held in custody and is expected to go to trial later in May.Pamela Foster is the mother of Ashlynne Mike, the 11-year-old Navajo girl abducted and killed on the Navajo Nation in 2016. Foster has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for Indigenous children and people since she lost her daughter. On the afternoon of May 2, 2016, Ashlynne Mike and her 9-year-old brother, Ian Mike, didn't make it home from school. When they got off the school bus in Shiprock, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, a predator tricked them into getting into his van by promising them a ride home.Hours later, passersby found Ian Mike wandering alone in the area. Police located Ashlynne Mike's body on May 3, 2016, and discovered she had been sexually assaulted, strangled, and bludgeoned repeatedly with a tire iron.She said, “I miss my daughter every single day. I became a voice for my daughter the moment I received word that her life was taken from her.”She talked about how the system failed when her children were missing in 2016. She said that May 1 to May 6 is a nightmare for her every year, because she relives what happened to her children.Foster talked about the hours from when her children disappeared to when they found her daughter's body; she ran into countless obstacles that left her without support.“It was very hard to sit there and know that there were no resources available for my children,” Foster said. “I absolutely had nothing.”She said local law enforcement was not adequately trained to handle child abductions. There was no clear communication between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Instead of searching for her children, Foster said they were trying to figure out exactly what protocols were needed to start looking.“Time was lost,” Foster said, and they did not send out an AMBER Alert until the following day. Foster recalled the alert went out at 2 a.m., and she said that helped no one because not many people were awake then. She remembers hearing officers from the neighboring jurisdictions tell her they couldn't go out to look for her daughter until they were given the clearance to do so by the Navajo Nation Police Department. Foster said it frustrated her how long it took for that to happen. She said the anger and hurt about what happened to Ashlynne led her to be a voice for her daughter.“I promised her I would do something for all of our other Indigenous children. To give them the protection that they need so they don't go through the same thing.”Foster has led many grassroots efforts to support Indigenous children, including advocating and petitioning for the AMBER Alert system to include Indian Country.Foster said she wanted to change, and she knew the justice system in Indian Country needed to be updated, so she focused her efforts on the AMBER Alert system. Her advocacy resulted in the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018, which makes tribes eligible for AMBER Alert grants to integrate into state and regional AMBER Alert communication plans.“I always say that I've never received justice for what happened to my daughter because nothing can bring her back,” Foster said. “There will never be justice, but we can learn how to move forward in changing laws to make things better for our people.”The goal of the hearing was for the federal commissioners to listen and hear recommendations on the best course of action for the MMIP crisis. Commissioners will use the suggestions to develop their final report for the Department of Interior.Foster's big recommendation was not only geared at the commissioners, but other attendees of the hearing. She encouraged them to tell their tribal leaders to receive the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act training. “It is free,” she said, adding that it is a vital program for Indigenous communities because it will train police officers and social workers from the tribe. Because tribes are sovereign nations, the Department of Justice has to receive a request in order to run the training on tribal land: “Have your tribal leaders request this training for your community because the children are our next generation,” Foster said. “There's still a lot of tribes that need to be trained.”When Seraphine Warren was finished sharing her aunt's story, she laid out her recommendations. “Transparency and swift action is key,” she said, “which means that when a person is missing, law enforcement should immediately inform all jurisdictions and issue press releases to media channels to inform the public.”“Family members need to be regularly and constantly updated with the progress of the investigation, and families should be prioritized if any remains are found in any jurisdiction.” Some of the other recommendations included allowing families to hire private investigators, providing them access to case files, supporting families in organizing their task force, providing families with constant and reliable access to grief counseling services, medical attention, financial and legal assistance, and safe housing for families of missing or murdered loved ones. ASSOCIATED PRESS: If you're not first, you're last. DENVER (AP) — Sitting in front of a hulking red tractor, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines with a “right to repair” law — which compels manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and software farmers would need.Colorado, home to high desert ranches and sweeping farms on the plains, took the lead on the issue following a nationwide outcry from farmers that manufacturers blocked them from making fixes and forced them to wait precious days or even weeks for an official servicer to arrive — delays that hurt profits.While farmers wait and their increasingly high-tech tractors or combines sit idle, a hailstorm could decimate an entire crop. Or, a farmer could miss the ideal planting window for their crops to grow.Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation, including in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Vermont. But Colorado has taken the lead. At the signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, under a light drizzle of rain, Gov. Polis said: “This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money and support the free market in repair” before exclaiming, “first in the nation!”Behind the governor and arrayed farmers and lawmakers sat a red Steiger 370 tractor owned by a farmer named Danny Wood. Wood's tractor has flown an American flag reading “Farmers First,” and it has been one of two of his machines to break down, requiring long waits before servicers arrived to enter a few lines of computer code, or make a fix that Wood could have made himself.As the signing ceremony ended, Gov. Polis and Rep. Brianna Titone, who ran the bill in the state House, climbed inside the tractor for a photo as the ceremony ended.Great job, Rep. Titone! Huge win for this up-and-coming legislator. When I first saw her speak announcing her initial candidacy in 2017, I didn't know what to expect. Honestly, I didn't expect a lot, and I didn't particularly expect her to even win. And then, winning that seat was just the first of many instances where I've seen her demonstrate a level of depth, grit, and smarts that rival any of her peers. Great job Rep. Titone, you rock. CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Violent Femmes - performing their self-titled album - Levitt Pavilion in Denver on Sunday May 21. The cult favorite folk punk band from Milwaukee is celebrating 40 years since the release of their first album in 1983. More info at vfemmes.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Arizona Mirror, Denver Post, Associated Press and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

#115: European Parliament member Sarah Weiner, who sits on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, compares organic policies and markets in Europe with those in the US. The drive to reduce pesticide usage and increase organic acreage in the EU faces an easier path forward without an obstinate Secretary of Agriculture like Tom Vilsack to contend with.  Sarah Weiner is a German-Austrian celebrity television chef and member of the European Parliament. A member of the Green Party, she has held a seat on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development since her election and is the parliament's rapporteur on regulation of pesticides in the European Union.To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/sarah-weiner-eus-farm-to-fork-increases-organic-acreage-episode-one-hundred-fifteenThe Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement working towards certifying 1,000 farms across the United States this year. Our add-on food label distinguishes soil-grown fruits and vegetables from hydroponically-raised produce, and pasture-raised meat, milk, and eggs from products harvested from animals in horrific confinement (CAFOs - confined animal feeding operations).To find a Real Organic farm near you, please visit:https://www.realorganicproject.org/farmsWe believe that the organic standards, with their focus on soil health, biodiversity, and animal welfare were written as they should be, but that the current lack of enforcement of those standards is jeopardizing the ability for small farms who adhere to the law to stay in business. The lack of enforcement is also jeopardizing the overall health of the customers who support the organic movement; customers who are not getting what they pay for at market but still paying a premium price. And the lack of enforcement is jeopardizing the very cycles (water, air, nutrients) that Earth relies upon to provide us all with a place to live, by pushing extractive, chemical agriculture to the forefront.If you like what you hear and are feeling inspired, we would love for you to join our movement by becoming one of our 1,000  Real Friends:https://www.realorganicproject.org/real-organic-friends/To read our weekly newsletter (which might just be the most forwarded newsletter on the internet!) and get firsthand news about what's happening with organic food, farming and policy, please subscribe here:https://www.realorganicproject.org/email/

The 2023 Farm Bill is expected to be a $1.7 trillion piece of legislation (that's "trillion" with a T). Less than 20 percent actually finds its way to U.S. farms so making the case why you need attention can be "do-or-die." Fresh off a Farmer Fly-in, USA Rice Senior Director Jamison Cruce joins us to talk about rice's legislative priorities for this massive bill. Also, Michael sat down with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to talk rice farmer assistance and communicating about agriculture in general. With special guests: Jamison Cruce, Senior Director of Government Affairs, USA Rice, LG Raun, Texas Rice Farmer, and Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Hosted by: Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

On the HAT Podcast, Eric Pfeiffer and C.J. Miller join us again from Orlando, Florida where the annual Commodity Classic was held. They'll report on reaction to comments from keynote speaker Tom Vilsack, U.S. ag secretary, and they have details on a new soybean herbicide. HAT Chief Meteorologist Ryan Martin says it's a mix of clouds and sun but on the cold side in the Indiana farm forecast, and the grain markets closed the week mixed Friday. Andy Eubank has the markets, and Brian Basting has analysis - all coming up on the #HATPodcast!

You know David Axlerod...the chief strategist for President Obama, CNN commentator, and founder of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. The Obama years come up a bit in this conversation, but we focus mostly on his 20+ years as a working political media consultant before connecting professionally with then-State Senator Obama. We talk cutting his teeth in NYC, how the appeal of Chicago politics drew him to the Windy City, why he made the jump from political journalist to political operative, & stories, lessons, and insights from his 40+ years in and around politics.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com) IN THIS EPISODE….David's early political memories growing up in NYC…The political appeal that drew David to Chicago for college…David tells the story of Chicago machine politics through 3 influential figures…What made David make the jump from journalism to become a political operative…The story behind David's first campaign working for Congressman Paul Simon…The Axelrod approach to political ads…David talks his time working for iconic Chicago Mayor Harold Washington…The historic 1992 Illinois Senate race that might not have happened without Axelrod agitation…How the 1992 Illinois Senate race foretold the 2004 rise of Senator Barack Obama…David's take on the “self doubt” present among many who work in politics… AND Jill Abramson, Paul Begala, Jessie Berry, Madison Brown, bullshit meters, Jane Byrne, Mike Calabrese, James Carville, cashing in stamps, the Chicago Tribune, chiseling, civilian review panels, Forrest Claypool, Cardiss Collins, George Collins, colorful Chicago lore, the Commissioner of Rodent Control, Rich Daley, Richard J. Daley, Bill Dawson, Alan Dixon, David Doak, Lloyd Doggett, dopes, Stephen Douglas, Rahm Emanuel, Carter Eskew, Jerry Finkelstein, Erwin France, gambling syndicates, Newt Gingrich, golfing with Dan Quayle, hammer-and-tong battles, Fred Hampton, Henry Henderson, Anita Hill, Al Hofeld, homespun wisdom, Hyde Park, impostor syndrome, Ben Lewis, John Lindsay, luminescent figures, JFK, RFK, the Jewish Kennedys, Vince Larkin, Jerry Liebner, Jim Ross Lightfoot, Abraham Lincoln, Little Rock, machine cogs, Jane Mayer, Mark McKinnon, Ralph Metcalfe, Kiki Moore, Carol Moseley Braun, Mike Murphy, Dr. Odom, Jesse Owens, PS 40, Deval Patrick, pastry and cash, Charles Percy, quixotic races, the Reagan Revolution, realpolitik, Republican golden boys, Dan Rostenkowski, Joe Rostenkowski, Mrs. Roth, secret sauces, Bill Singer, slate-making, Bob Squier, Andrew Stein, Stuyvesant Town, Tammany Hall, Clarence Thomas, unerring noses, the University of Chicago, Tom Vilsack, ward bosses, the wheel of history, David Wilhelm, the Wigwam, the Wizard of Oz Syndrome & more!

Agriculture is responsible for around 11% of U.S. carbon emissions. And yet soil holds the potential for massive carbon sequestration. Conventional agriculture focuses more on crop productivity than soil health, relying on pesticides, fertilizer, and other practices that contribute to climate-changing emissions rather than reduce them. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack advocates for a federal initiative focused on supporting “climate smart” agriculture for commodity crops that comprise the bulk of what's grown on American farms: corn, soybeans, wheat. Meanwhile, the restaurateur behind Zero Foodprint is working to create change from table to farm, by crowdsourcing funds from customers to support regenerative farming practices directly.  Guests: Tom Vilsack, Secretary, US Department of Agriculture Jeremy Martin, Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists Anthony Myint, Executive Director, Zero Foodprint For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agriculture is responsible for around 11% of U.S. carbon emissions. And yet soil holds the potential for massive carbon sequestration. Conventional agriculture focuses more on crop productivity than soil health, relying on pesticides, fertilizer, and other practices that contribute to climate-changing emissions rather than reduce them. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack advocates for a federal initiative focused on supporting “climate smart” agriculture for commodity crops that comprise the bulk of what's grown on American farms: corn, soybeans, wheat. Meanwhile, the restaurateur behind Zero Foodprint is working to create change from table to farm, by crowdsourcing funds from customers to support regenerative farming practices directly.  Guests: Tom Vilsack, Secretary, US Department of Agriculture Jeremy Martin, Senior Scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists Anthony Myint, Executive Director, Zero Foodprint For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hunger is a reality, but it is also a solvable problem. While millions of kids face hunger everyday, we can make sure every kid gets the food they need to grow up healthy, happy, and strong. The second episode in Add Passion and Stir's series on why food is the most important school supply connects with changemakers from federal, state, and local government and community organizations that are working to solve childhood hunger in America. Their solution: making sure kids get feed while they are at school. The episode features: Dawn Amano-Ige, First Lady of HawaiiDr. Sara Bleich, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity, USDADr. Miguel A. Cardona, Secretary of EducationJohn Giles, Mayor, Mesa, ArizonaJennie Gordon, First Lady of WyomingLevar Stoney, Mayor, Richmond, VirginiaTom Vilsack, Secretary of AgricultureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ADL reveals public officials who have paid dues to the Oath Keepers | Blake Masters slammed by veterans group in Tucson | Tribal leaders applaud federal climate change funding | Asian American Pacific Islander advocates keep momentum from soaring 2020 voter turnout | Arizona law banning recording of police is blocked by judge on First Amendment grounds | US Sec of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visits Denver, announces millions in federal funding projects https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Across America, kids are headed back to school, but nearly 12 million kids in America face hunger. Children need three meals a day to grow up happy, healthy, and strong but for many hunger is a daily reality. In this first episode of a three-part series exploring why food is the most important school supply, you'll hear directly from those affected by hunger and those witnessing hunger in the classroom. You'll also begin to understand the opportunity we have to SOLVE the problem of childhood hunger. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark is surprised by new directions taken by the USDA in this conversation with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The discussion continues with Ricardo Salvador, senior scientist and director of the Union of Concerned Scientists Food & Environment Program.Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Subscribe to Mark's newsletter The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com.Questions or comments about the show? Email food@markbittman.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.