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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Saturday, August 24, 2024
This week’s Open Mic guest is Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Duvall is aware of the limited opportunity the congressional calendar affords for farm policy discussion on Capitol Hill, but that’s not keeping him and other farmers from pressing elected leaders for a new farm bill. The Georgia farmer says AFBF members support risk management tools that reflect the price structure of today’s farm economy and support effective nutrition programs for those in need. Duvall says the organization's resolutions process is underway for the policy delegates will consider at their annual meeting in January in Salt Lake City. In this interview, Duvall discusses expanding crop insurance, the farm labor workforce, energy and trade policy and ongoing negotiations with the EPA over the new Waters of the U.S. definition.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Mark Eisele, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The Wyoming rancher says even though profits are now better for cattlemen than row crop producers, they still need a new farm bill to ensure herd safety and provide opportunities to maintain and grow global markets. Sustainability is important and Eisele discusses how cattlemen are working to produce safe, high quality protein with an even smaller environmental footprint. He also discusses the legal challenges one South Dakota rancher is facing with USDA's Forest Service.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. The renewable fuels industry has clawed its way into a significant portion of the liquid fuels industry. Potential growth for both refiners and farmers hinges on regulatory decisions by government agencies and litigation in the court system. Skor says the Treasury Department’s decision on what sustainable agriculture practices will be required for the pending 45Z rule is critical for the industry’s future and if the Biden administration’s climate goals will ultimately be met.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Brent Boydson, Immediate Past Chairman of the U.S. Grains Council. While there are immense headwinds to maintaining and growing markets for U.S.corn, sorghum and barley, Boydson believes emerging markets in Africa and India will provide tremendous growth opportunities for US farmers. He says U.S. efforts to verify sustainable ag practices, as well as the continued reliability and quality of products and increasing demand for more meat and protein, will open new markets.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Cathy Burns, President and CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association. From a statistical perspective, the produce industry has tremendous potential for growth with only a small fraction of Americans consuming the daily recommended allowance of fruits and vegetables. Burns says domestically, the produce industry faces tremendous challenges from high input costs, a lack of an adequate labor force and uncertainty over a new farm bill from Washington. She says the obstacles are limiting opportunities for growth and IFPA needs Congressional leaders to help.
This week’s Open Mic guest is Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. The profit pendulum has swung deeply into the red for U.S. cotton farmers. Adams says many producers faced challenges finding operating loans this year and may be left wanting without a new farm bill that reflects the current economic climate. He also discusses the impact of the Supreme Court's Chevron decision and potential concerns about international trade.