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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
This week's guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts. In this year-end interview the Kansas Republican discusses the USDA's recently announced GIPSA rules and the challenges he sees the language presents for packers and livestock producers. Looking at Trump's trade agenda, he's concerned about what's ahead for farm exports and renewable fuels. Roberts also shares thoughts on a new farm bill, including suggestions for those who want to separate nutrition and farm programs
This week's guest on Open Mic is Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. In this week's interview Martin explains forest owners desire to amend federal policy to treat wildfires as natural disasters preserving funding for land conservation and stewardship programs. Martin explains how estate taxes threaten family forest owners and says amendments to corporate taxes could provide benefits as well as challenges for the nation's tree farmers. The American Forest Foundation will closely watch the appropriations process in the new congress and has program goals to include in the debate for a new farm bill.
Jeff Nalley
Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation
This week's guest on Open Mic is Philip Seng, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. A shift in global markets has brought a rebound to U.S. red meat exports in 2016. In this week's interview, Seng talks about the year ahead for meat trade and how the protectionist rhetoric from the campaign trail is already impacting our trading partners. He also addresses the risks and potential rewards from trading with China and the strong dollar's effect on U.S. meat export sales.
Jeff Nalley
Philip Seng, President and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation
This week's guest on Open Mic is Carrie Calvert, Director of Tax and Commodity Policy at Feeding America. The United States is said to be the best fed nation on the planet, but one in seven of its residents is considered food insecure. Calvert outlines how her organization, often in partnership with public and private programs, helps bring food to those in need. Calvert discusses potential nutrition program cuts through budget reconciliation and the important links between farm and nutrition programs in a new farm bill. She also shares more ways for farmers and concerned citizens to get involved with addressing hunger in America.
Jeff Nalley
Carrie Calvert, Director of Tax & Commodity Policy, Feeding America
This week's guest on Open Mic is Ambassador Michael Froman. The Obama administration stands ready to ratify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, but following this month's elections, congressional leaders appear unwilling to take up the multi-lateral trade deal. In this week's interview Ambassador Froman responds to critics of the plan who see trade agreements as a scapegoat for job losses instead of a stimulus for economic growth and job creation. Froman discusses the Chinese led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and outlines trade talks this week with Chinese leaders.
This week's guest on Open Mic is Donnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. The renewable biodiesel industry has seen much growth in production capacity and market demand, but is still short of its 2022 goal of a tenth of domestic diesel volume. This exclusive interview reveals a need for legislative attention to tax extenders, a continued call for a shift of tax benefits from producers to blenders and a desire for predictable volume standards from the EPA for biodiesel.
Jeff Nalley
Donnell Rehagen, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board
