Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years. Tuesday, July 09, 2024

Agri-Pulse Open Mic Interview

In depth interviews with leaders in ag policy
Subscribe to this Podcast

Todd Van Hoose, CEO and President, Farm Credit Council

Play
Listen
06-19-2016
This week's guest on Open Mic is Todd Van Hoose, CEO and President of the Farm Credit Council.  As the Farm Credit System celebrates its centennial this year, Todd Van Hoose says he's humbled by the achievements over the past century and excited about the opportunities in the next 100 years. In this week's interview Van Hoose discusses the troubled spots the industry is facing and says increased demands for government secured loans is a symptom of the challenges some farmers are facing. Van Hoose shares thoughts on the significance of the nation's crop insurance program, CFTC reform, the need for global trade and challenges the Farm Credit System continues to see from the community banking industry.

Jeff Nalley

Todd Van Hoose, CEO and President Farm Credit Council

Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam-UC Davis

Play
Listen
06-12-2016
This week's guest on Open Mic is Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, a genomics and biotechnology researcher at the University of California, Davis.  Her work in animal breeding was inspired by Dr. Norman Borlaug's efforts to resolve hunger issues with genetically engineered plants.  Van Eenennaam believes science has been left out of the debate over how foods should be labeled saying nutritional benefits are more important than how ingredients from plant varieties were bred.  Van Eenennaam notes a difference in society's acceptance of biotechnology in medicine versus that in food production where genetic engineering may provide the only sustainable solution to feeding a growing planet.

Jeff Nalley

Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam-UC Davis

John Weber, President NPPC

Play
Listen
06-05-2016

This week's guest on Open Mic is John Weber, President of the National Pork Producers Council.  In this interview, Weber speaks to opportunities and challenges on the horizon for the nation's swine industry.  While global demand for protein, especially pork, continues to grow, Weber and members of the NPPC adamantly support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement to grant greater market access to growth markets. At home, Weber says pork producers face challenges from the USDA's pending GIPSA proposal, the EPA on WOTUS rules, the country's preparedness to infectious animal disease, the industry's effort to further reduce antibiotics in swine production and a domestic inventory that could soon meet or exceed the nation's slaughter capacity.

Jeff Nalley

John Weber, President NPPC

Carl Casale, Pres. and CEO CHS, Inc.

Play
Listen
05-29-2016
This week's guest on Open Mic is Carl Casale, President and CEO of CHS Inc.  The cyclical pendulum has brought the ag industry from record highs to lows not seen since the early 1980's. In this week's interview, Carl Casale shares a view that the industry hasn't yet seen the bottom of the income swing. Despite the current challenge, Casale shares a bright view for the next generation of the industry with tremendous turnover in producer demographics.  Casale says CHS is pro-trade but believes the U.S. must step up spending on infrastructure to stay competitive.

Jeff Nalley

Carl Casale, Pres. and CEO CHS, Inc.

Chris Novak - CEO National Corn Growers Assn.

Play
Listen
05-22-2016

This week's guest on Open Mic is Chris Novak, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.  In this week's interview, Novak shares the global vision of the NCGA's most recent strategic planning process and the Washington legislative agenda including continued work on a national GMO food labeling standard.  He also reacts to negative opinions on global trade from the campaign trail and shares why the Renewable Fuel Standard is about giving consumers better environmental choices and not limiting the auto industry's choices to meet new economic and environmental standards. 

Jeff Nalley

Chris Novak - CEO National Corn Growers Assn.

Senator Cory Gardner - Colorado

Play
Listen
05-15-2016
Our guest this week on Open Mic is Colorado U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. With a family farm machinery business in operation for over a century, Senator Gardner shares his experience with the cyclical nature of the agriculture industry and the need for farmers to have access to new advances in technology to remain productive and profitable. In the discussion this week Gardner shares thoughts on the EPA and their new water rules and his view that water issues should be resolved at the state level. The Colorado Republican shares his view of the Endangered Species Act, the need for continued investment in the highways and rail lines of our nation and why he supports free trade agreements.

Jeff Nalley

Senator Cory Gardner - Colorado

corygardner.jpeg

More Multimedia