This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company. With over 45 years of experience in the global grain market, Basse has seen cyclical swings in commodity prices and farm income many times before. Unlike years gone by, the United States farmer is no longer the primary supplier of grains to the international market and is politically and financially being squeezed out of what were once promising markets. Basse says price is no longer the primary driver of export sales and future administrations may be forced to use strong trade policy to open doors for farmers.  Basse says the renewable fuels industry as well as airlines need regulatory certainty to secure their share of a promising demand base for their crops.

This week’s Open Mic guest is former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.  The Minnesota Democrat is concerned how misinformation in the campaign for the White House is impacting voters across the nation. Peterson believes there’s still time for the Congress to approve a new farm bill, but admits the results of the election could determine the political will for approving new policy.  Peterson says the respective agriculture committee’s can approve final language of the bill, but will need the leaders of Congress to approve additional funds to pay for needed updates in both farm and nutrition programs.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association. Most in the ag industry were relieved that dockworkers were back on the job following an agreement on wages that allowed East Coast and Gulf ports to reopen last week. Seyfert says container shipments are an integral factor in meeting global customers demands for a number of U.S. agricultural products. Prior to his tenure at NGFA, Seyfert had an extensive career on Capitol Hill. He recognizes the challenges of  seeing a farm bill approved by the end of the year, but says the industry needs new policy now.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Representative Mark Alford. The Missouri Republican joins the chorus of other farm state representatives calling for a new farm bill this year. Alford supports the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill with updated reference prices and improved SNAP benefits. He believes the EPA is overstepping its authority on tail pipe emission standards and regulation of crop pesticides.  Alford says conflict in the Black Sea and Middle East could have extreme consequences on the U.S. economy and American people.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. He says the ag economic climate is burdening farmers with high input costs and lower crop commodity prices and some may have difficulty obtaining financing next year. Larew talks about the importance of passing a new farm bill, expanding exports and securing an adequate workforce in county FSA offices.

This week’s Open Mic guest is South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson. Last week hundreds of farmers were in Washington calling on legislators to press forward to approve a new farm bill. Johnson says deadlines drive achievement in Congress and the challenges farmers shared with their elected leaders was more than enough to try and beat the political odds to deliver new risk management tools and nutrition programs. Johnson shares concerns about farmer use of Chinese drone technology. He is critical of the Biden administration’s immigration policy saying rules are too stringent to legally enter the country and too easy to enter illegally.