Agri-Pulse Open Mic Podcast

This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Sumner, president and CEO of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council. After record losses to U.S. poultry in 2015 from highly pathogenic avian influenza, the disease is wreaking havoc again around the globe. Sumner says the biggest losses have come in laying hens. Some 150 detections have been reported in commercial flocks in 29 states, but wild bird detections have been three times larger than the previous round of the disease. Sumner says the supply of turkeys for Thanksgiving could be challenged if the disease continues to spread. Finally, Sumner reflects on his career and discusses the challenges of labor and shipping in the poultry industry as well as frustration with the remaining trade embargo with Cuba.

This week's Open Mic guest is Dr. Paul Bloom, CEO of Gevo Inc. The company is bringing innovation to the renewable fuel sector. Bloom says the company's primary focus is commercializing and scaling a proven alcohol to jet pathway to make aviation fuel. Gevo is engaged in technology, process, and intellectual property development targeted to large-scale deployment of renewable hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. Potential investors need increased certainty from government programs and tax incentives to allow the industry to flourish, he adds.

This week's Open Mic guest is Dr. Scott Hutchins, Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hutchins says the USDA's Proving Grounds for Network for AgTech will help farmers adopt technologies to improve production and boost efficiency.  Hutchins says the USDA restructuring will streamline operations, strengthen leadership accountability and position resources closer to the ag communities USDA serves. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Demand for electricity is growing across the nation because of data centers and other demands at the same time that coal fired power plants are being taken off-line. Matheson says the base load of electricity is running close to capacity in many areas of the country and vulnerable to failure in summer and winter weather extremes. He discusses why cooperatives need finances to restore electric generation and transmission following growing weather extremes in the nation. 

This week's Open Mic guest is Oregon's 2^nd District Congressman Cliff Bentz, who says a dry spring has impacted the diverse list of crops grown in his state as well as challenged ranchers with forage supplies. He supports the USMCA trade accord and hopes the review of the North American trade agreement will keep borders open and provide opportunities for fair trade. Bentz supports additional financial assistance for farmers and makes the case for ending endangered species protection for wolves.

This week's Open Mic guest is Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited. Count members and leaders of Ducks Unlimited among those lobbying Congress to approve new farm programs. Putnam, the former Florida legislator, says the farm bill is the single largest conservation program in the nation. He describes how DU members actively work with farmers and ranchers improving wildlife habitat by conserving water and improving tillage and grazing