The Department of Agriculture rolled out a $6 billion program aimed at helping producers who suffered disasters in 2020 and 2021. USDA’s Gloria Montaño Greene joins the program to discuss what producers should know about how they might receive assistance and takes a look at the broader risk management portfolio under the federal government’s umbrella.

Then, Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates and Tara Smith with Michael Torrey Associates discuss the implications of disasters on the crop insurance program, the prospects of permanent disaster relief legislation and their concerns about actuarial soundness.

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New figures this week showed inflation is still impacting American consumers, but some slight moderation was also observed. There was also news on interest in the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program, leading to questions about the ability for the program to satisfy the existing demand with its present resources. 

This week's video also features thoughts on immigration and the future of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act from Chuck Conner with the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Allison Crittenden with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Dave Gagner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Cal Poly’s Ricky Volpe. 

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The Biden administration is approaching a key deadline to publish annual volume targets for biofuel blending. There’s also the ongoing effort to redefine the definition of a Water of the U.S. and looming concerns about the loss of crop protection tools through the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval processes. 

EPA Administrator Michael Regan joins Newsmakers to discuss the work the agency is doing on the long list of food and ag policy concerns at the agency. There’s also thoughts from industry leaders like Chris Bliley at Growth Energy, Michael Formica at the National Pork Producers Council, and Richard Gupton at the Agricultural Retailers Association about what the EPA is doing – as well as what they’d like the agency to do instead. 

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The House and Senate Agriculture Committees both convened hearings to examine the beef sector this week. Now, Congress is left to determine its next steps and whether or not to pursue big reforms to the nation's cattle sector. Want to receive Newsmakers direct to your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

New figures released this week by the International Monetary Fund were cause for concern around the world as the potential for increased food costs is weighed against potential political uncertainty that might result. Dan Glickman, the ag secretary for the majority of the Clinton administration, joins Newsmakers to discuss what the report means and what the U.S. can do about it. Then, an esteemed panel – oilseed industry analyst John Baize, Krysta Harden with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture Kip Tom – discuss what they’re hearing about global food prices, supply chain issues, and the potential for role of the 2022 crop year in the conversation.

The Biden administration made news this week with the announced emergency action to allow E15 to be sold this summer. The move satisfies a major request of the biofuels industry but also leaves the sector wondering what comes next. Iowa Republican Randy Feenstra joins Newsmakers to discuss that as well as ag input issues and efforts to define a Water of the U.S.

There’s also a panel discussion on the future of ethanol policy and agriculture’s current relationship with the Environmental Protection Agency.

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