Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

The Department of Agriculture convened its annual Ag Outlook Forum this week and offered production and financial projections for 2023. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer presided over the event’s opening session and joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to expand on what he’s watching in the year ahead and reflect on major factors that will shape the farm economy. 

Then, Scott Irwin with the University of Illinois and Krista Swanson with the National Corn Growers Association discuss what producers will plant this year and in the years to come as market factors like prices, trade and sustainability influence production decisions across the country. 

New figures from the Congressional Budget Office added new layers to the farm bill discussion this week Senate Ag Committee member and Iowa Republican Joni Ernst joins Newsmakers to offer her thoughts on the upcoming legislation as well as her thoughts on the prospects for legislative or regulatory changes in the biofuels industry.

Then, Kathy Bergren of the National Corn Growers Association, Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol and Kurt Kovarik with Clean Fuels Alliance America offer their thoughts on existing biofuels issues as well as possible legislative debates to come.

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As she prepares to leave her USDA position at the end of the month, Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh joins Agri-Pulse to reflect on her time as the department’s number two official and how farmers and ranchers have fared during her tenure. She also offers thoughts on USDA’s Equity Commission, which she expects will continue its work long after her departure.

Then, Scott Gerlt with the American Soybean Association and Mary Kay Thatcher with Syngenta react to this week’s State of the Union address, USDA’s farm income forecast and the farm bill implications of the current political environment in Washington.

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FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has proposed creating a new human foods program at the agency to centralize FDA’s oversight of 80% of the country's food supply. Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to talk about the idea, funding the agency, and making the next farm bill more climate friendly.

Then, a panel including Tom Chapman with the Organic Trade Association, Jacqlyn Schneider with FGS Global and James Glueck with the Torrey Advisory Group discuss the upcoming farm bill and USDA’s recent organic action.

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Now several weeks removed from a prolonged process to pick the next House Speaker, congressional Republicans are forming their committees and rolling out policy priorities. House Ag GOP member Don Bacon joins Newsmakers to discuss the obstacles facing the next farm bill and how he hopes to be involved in shaping it.

Then, a panel including Lia Biondo with the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association, and Davenport Policy’s Bev Paul walk through how the split control and partisan politics of Capitol Hill will shape food and ag policy for the next two years and beyond.

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