Agri-Pulse Open Mic Podcast

This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Sutter sees an end to the current short supply of soybean oil and other vegetable crops. He expects global soybean farmers to respond to higher prices with increased plantings to meet growing demand. Sutter expects soybean oil demand to increase and suggests USSEC is working to grow market opportunities for soybean meal globally. Sutter is pleased with the U.S. investment in infrastructure but is concerned that the Biden administration doesn’t have Trade Promotion Authority with this Congress needed to ratify any new trade agreement as written.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. As the nation celebrates June Dairy Month, there is no rest for the dairy industry facing ongoing recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, trade challenges and supply chain issues. NMPF is calling on the Biden FDA to crack down on plant-based dairy substitute products and keep pressure on the Canadian government to fulfill its promises made under the USMCA trade deal. Mulhern says the 2018 farm bill made positive strides for dairy farmers nationwide but believes more should be done to protect the nation’s small and medium sized producers. Mulhern says dairy has a positive sustainability story that could be even greater with further incentives from Washington.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Glen Smith, chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration. While the farm economy balance sheet is in no way as challenged as in the early 1980s, Chairman Smith suggests there are developing similarities. Smith says there are active farmers today who survived the farm crisis four decades ago and yet others who’ve not experienced the financial pressure that comes from high interest rates. Smith explains the need for a farm safety net and discusses the need to support young and beginning farmers as well as make solid investments in rural America.

This week’s Open Mic Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member John Boozman. The Arkansas Republican says the Russian-Ukraine conflict is disrupting a major food production region and exacerbating global hunger. Boozman says it is time for Washington to act, not only addressing the immediate needs of starving people but enhancing opportunities to encourage American farmers and ranchers to step up production to meet global shortfalls. Boozman is encouraged that an upcoming committee hearing on new farm policy will include a southern perspective on production, sustainability, and climate-smart farming practices. Boozman favors the Senate version of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and would like to see the legislation approved in short order.

This week’s Open Mic guest is U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Despite the many challenges facing the nation and the global economy, McConnell remains optimistic. With the mid-term elections looming this fall, McConnell holds little faith for significant legislative action this year. He is critical of the Biden administration’s trade agenda and believes the U.S. could step up to fill Europe’s energy needs heightened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. McConnell supports additional global food aid and acknowledges the global events challenging the nation’s farms and ranches.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. Washington has directed a large sum of funds to close the digital divide between urban and rural residents and adequate broadband coverage, but there’s no single agency working to coordinate efforts across the government. Bloomfield reports progress in many areas, but a process of red tape that sometimes stands in the way of major accomplishments toward expanded coverage. Labor and supply chain issues are also providing obstacles to expanded coverage in many areas of the country. Managing the expectations of the underserved remains a challenge for the industry.