This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. Many in the dairy industry believe it’s time for the Federal Milk Marketing Order to be updated since much has changed in the industry over the last 23 years. The orders help guarantee an adequate supply of milk and dairy products as well as maintain orderly marketing decisions and there is disagreement in the industry on the extent of data that should be considered in the decision-making process. Mulhern describes the function of change and reasons NMPF believes this should be a more exhaustive process. He applauds progress on dairy product labeling but says legislation is needed to help consumers make educated decisions on the nutritional value of the products they buy.

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.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Alex Dunn, President and CEO of CropLife America. Dunn joined CLA in March of this year and brings an extensive career in environmental and regulatory leadership to the association, including her previous service as Assistant Administrator for the EPA office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Dunn and her team are intently monitoring the EPA’s process of developing strategies for pesticides as they relate to endangered species and trying to educate stakeholders about many facets of the industry. She says CLA members are concerned about EPA staffing shortages and discusses the headwinds facing new and existing products from the crop protection industry. 

This week’s Open Mic guest is Ben Alfi, Founder and CEO of Bluewhite.  Alfi spent over 25 years in the Israeli Air Force as a combat pilot and as Head of Unmanned Systems Research and Development programs. He leveraged his experience to form the autonomous technology company in 2017. Bluewhite provides add on autonomous capabilities for tractors primarily in the specialty crop space of  agriculture production. Alfi says the company’s mission is to build resiliency in farming operations by maximizing a grower’s productivity and minimizing production costs. Alfi believes his technology is an answer to  the labor shortage hampering today’s farming operations.