Agri-Pulse Open Mic Podcast

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Margaret Zeigler, Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative. The 9th annual GAP Report indicates a disturbing trend for global agriculture. While U.S. agriculture drowns in a surplus of bulk commodities, the global productivity trend falls short of the long range goal of meeting the food, fiber and fuel demands of a growing population. Zeigler says low income countries are especially deficient and would benefit from better trade relations, funding for research as well as public/private partnerships in food production.

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

This week's Open Mic guest is U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Mississippi Republican was pleased to see a new farm bill proposal approved by the House and is eager to discuss policy options with other ag leaders on the Senate Ag Committee. Hyde-Smith says farmers in the Delta states have seen their own set of challenges this year and makes the case for additional financial assistance. She discusses her bill, the Buying American Cotton Act and how it can revitalize the cotton industry in the South.