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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Home » Multimedia » Podcasts » Agri-Pulse Newsmakers » Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Jan. 19, 2024: Ted McKinney, Mary Kay Thatcher, and Anne MacMillan on appropriations, farm bill, and trade
As Congress continues to work through appropriations bills, passing a farm bill looks further down the road. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss the latest impact on a farm bill timeline and the top trade priorities for 2024.
Then, ag lobbyists Mary Kay Thatcher with Syngenta and Anne MacMillan with Invariant discuss the Iowa caucuses, and the politics surrounding the 2024 appropriations bills and the next steps for addressing FY2025 spending levels.
It’s been a big week for farm country as President Donald Trump enacted, then delayed, tariffs on Mexico and Canada. We spoke with farm group leaders at Commodity Classic in Denver about their top priorities in 2025, including tariffs, the state of the farm economy and renewable fuels.
Tune in to hear from American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland, National Corn Growers Association President Kenneth Hartman Jr., National Sorghum Producers Chair Amy France, National Association of Wheat Growers President Keeff Felty and Association of Equipment Manufacturers Ag Sector Board Chair Greg Petras.
The Agriculture Department’s staff was downsized by federal employee layoffs. We asked Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., how the staff changes will impact rural America and if farmers should be concerned about the Department of Government Efficiency.
Then, Tara Smith with Torrey Advisory Group and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Mike Lavender discuss the impact of the federal aid freeze and how budget reconciliation could shape the farm bill debate.
House Republicans are moving a budget plan that would slash USDA funding by $230 billion. South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson joined Newsmakers to discuss the possible cuts, which will likely come from nutrition assistance.
Then, Jim Richards from Cornerstone Government Affairs explains how SNAP program cuts in budget reconciliation could shape farm bill debate and Nick Levendofsky from the Kansas Farmers Union discusses how mass layoffs at the U.S. Agency for International Development are impacting the distribution of U.S. commodities for food aid.
Trade has been top of mind for farm country this week as President Donald Trump imposed and delayed tariffs on the country’s top trading partners. Former Ag Secretaries Dan Glickman and Mike Johanns, USDA leaders during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, discuss the impact of enacted and potential tariffs.
They also share their thoughts on Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Ag Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary-nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., is the new ranking member on the House Ag Committee. We sat down with her and Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Penn., to discuss their vision for leading the committee and their stance on nutrition programs, which could be subject to cuts in budget reconciliation.
Then, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall joins the show from the organization’s convention in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss concerns he’s hearing from farmers.
