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Balanced Reporting. Trusted Insights.
Wednesday, April 02, 2025
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.
After three hurricanes hit her Florida district in 13 months, Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., overviews recovery efforts and the possibility to embed USDA staff in FEMA to assist with future disasters. She also discusses the potential for including farm bill elements in budget reconciliation, saying it is “absolutely feasible.”
Then, T.A. Hawks with Monument Advocacy and Mike Stranz from the National Farmers Union discuss USDA’s release of $10B in market relief payments and the potential impact of the administration’s trade policies on agriculture.
The agriculture industry is beginning to feel shocks from retaliatory tariffs aimed at U.S. farm products. We speak with National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney about how President Trump’s aggressive trade agenda is impacting American agriculture and look ahead to NASDA’s farm bill priorities.
Then, Scott Gerlt with the American Soybean Association and Roger Cryan from the American Farm Bureau Federation discuss whether farmers should be concerned about another trade war.
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.
