The Department of Agriculture has responded to farm group entreaties to consider allowing production on Conservation Reserve Program acres, leaving many wondering what comes next. Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux joins Agri-Pulse to discuss the future of the program as well as the current state of FSA programs.

Then, a panel of experts explores farm programs, this year’s production expectations, and what it all means for the upcoming farm bill.

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An updated piece of legislation seeks to reform the way cattle are bought and sold across the country, but the new bill includes a provision that caused two major farm groups to oppose the initial version. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., explains why the regional cash trade mandate remains in the bill and what she sees as the path forward for the legislation.

Then, a panel of beef producer group leaders explain their stances on the new bill and take a look at the state of ranchers as a whole.

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Congress has funded a White House conference on nutrition, hunger and health, setting the stage for the first such gathering since 1969. The issue has been a longtime priority for House Ag Committee member and Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern, who joins this week’s Newsmakers to discuss what he hopes will come from the event and how it might shape the upcoming farm bill.

Then, a panel of experts takes a look at the current state of nutrition assistance and how a White House conference might influence the future of food policy.

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The Federal Reserve announced an increase to interest rates this week in an effort to soften the blow of inflation on the economy. This we talk to Farm Credit Council’s Todd Van Hoose about the impacts the rate hike - and more planned increases in the future - will have on the farm economy. There’s also a panel discussion on the current state of the farm economy and what a leading panel of experts are watching for indicators on the future of the sector’s financial status and how current factors are impacting the industry. Want to receive Newsmakers direct to your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is dominating the news as the world reacts on the battlefield and the trading floor. National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule offers his thoughts on how the action will impact American producers and consumers.

Then, a panel discussion explores how the response to the invasion can be expected to look both domestically and globally.

All that – plus a look at rural broadband spending and crop insurance figures – in this week’s Newsmakers.