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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers Podcast

Audio from our weekly Newsmakers show. New episode every Friday!

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Oct. 31, 2025: Rep. Brad Finstad on U.S.-China trade deal, shutdown, E15

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Duration: 27:00
10-31-2025
After shunning U.S. soybeans this year, China pledged to buy 25 million tons of soybeans annually for the next three years as part of the U.S.-China trade deal. We asked Minnesota Rep. Brad Finstad about the deal, his concerns about the November lapse in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown, and year-round E15.

Plus, Barbara Patterson of Torrey Advisory Group and Ken Barbic of Invariant discuss how the lapse in SNAP benefits for the first time in program history could affect millions of Americans who depend on the program. They also discussed the implications of the U.S.-China trade deal, which keeps China’s soybean purchases level with, or even below, recent years.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sen. Peter Welch on farm bill, Mary Boote on Global Farmer sentiment

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Duration: 26:00
06-19-2026

The Senate is expected to release farm bill text soon. We asked Vermont Sen. Peter Welch what he’d like to see included, and if there will be a push to remove state SNAP cost share provisions enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Welch also discusses concerns about staffing levels at farmer-facing USDA offices.

Plus, Global Farmer Network founder and CEO Mary Boote discusses how farmers around the world have responded to U.S. trade and tariff policies enacted by the Trump administration, as well as technology adoption trends from GFN members in 70+ countries in 6 continents.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Undersecretary Brashears: NWS isn't a food safety risk; Puglia on USMCA

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Duration: 26:00
06-12-2026
Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Undersecretary Brashears: NWS isn't a food safety risk; Puglia on USMCASeven cases of New World screwworm have been detected on U.S. soil. USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears says the Food Safety Inspection Service's 7,000 inspectors are “leading the animal health charge” in the fight against New World screwworm.

Western Growers Association President and CEO Dave Puglia discusses the importance of renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. On the panel, Phillip Kauffman with Texas A&M University and Ron Phillips with the Animal Health Institute discuss New World screwworm.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Karen Ross on California agriculture, water, MAHA, Prop 12

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Duration: 26:00
06-05-2026

California agriculture operates at a scale and under conditions unlike anywhere else in the country, yet the policy decisions extend far beyond state lines. We spent the week in Sacramento for the annual Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Issues Summit West and caught up with California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to discuss the challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping California agriculture, and why the rest of the country should be paying attention to the Golden State.

Plus, Ag Council of California President Emily Rooney outlines concerning plastic and packaging regulations and Chris Zanobini, president and CEO of Ag Association Management Services Inc., describes the "regulatory jenga" plaguing California agriculture.

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on product approvals, MAHA, year-round E15, RVOs

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Duration: 26:00
05-29-2026
Many row crop farmers are concerned about having access to an array of crop protection tools. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin explains the shrinking backlog of approvals, how the agency will continue to engage with the Make America Healthy Again movement, and year-round E15. Plus, Mitchell Hora with Continuum Ag outlines the testimony he gave on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and Megan Boutwell with Stillwater Associates discusses how state low carbon fuel standards are shifting demand for ag products.


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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Year-round E15, farm bill, Nebraska wildfire recovery with Sen. Deb Fischer

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Duration: 26:00
05-22-2026
A bill to allow year-round sales of E15 passed the full House and now awaits a vote in the Senate. Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer details the push for E15, as well as her farm bill priorities ahead of text being released in June. Plus, former Chief Ag Negotiator and current president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation Gregg Doud discusses his key takeaways from the bilateral meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tammi Arender provides an update from the field on Reservoir Farms, a new ag tech innovation hub in California.


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