Agri-Pulse Open Mic Interview

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Tom Hammer, President of the National Oilseed Processors Association. Fresh from a meeting with Trump administration trade officials last week Hammer provides a firsthand account of the discussion between agriculture leaders and the White House. Hammer gives an accounting of the oilseed processing industry’s overall health and growth outlook including the growing bioeconomy. Hammer echoes calls for domestic infrastructure investment and regulatory reform.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Gary Adams, President and CEO of the National Cotton Council. Despite what appears to be higher cotton plantings in 2017, the cotton industry is still under siege from low crop prices, global competition and competing synthetic fibers. In this interview Adams outlines goals for the upcoming 2018 farm bill as well as continued hopes for short term financial assistance until the new policy is implemented. Adams says the cotton industry is keeping a close eye on the Trump administration’s trade policy.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Ohio Representative Bob Gibbs. As a farmer and Republican Member of Congress, Gibbs has been outspoken in the need to roll back government regulation. He supports President Trump's executive order on the EPA WOTUS rule. In this interview Gibbs outlines his legislation to end duplicate regulations on point source pesticide application, the need to curtail federal spending, SNAP program reform and an overhaul of government tax reform.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Minnesota Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson. As Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Committee, Peterson delivers thoughts on the need for timely action on a new farm bill with several reforms. Peterson shares his thoughts on bi-lateral trade negotiation, immigration reform and his reservations on corporate tax reform proposals.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Leif Magnusson, President of CLAAS Global Sales Americas, Inc and Chair of the AEM Infrastructure 2050 Task Force. In this interview Magnusson shares thoughts on the challenge of the extended downturn in U.S. farm income and industry hopes for stability in 2017. Magnusson discusses the implications of the Trump administration’s trade agenda, need for corporate tax reform and regulatory relief. Magnusson outlines the challenges of a failing transportation infrastructure and makes a plea to President Donald Trump for a roundtable discussion with the equipment industry to prepare for the country’s future needs

This week’s guest on Open Mic is John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association. In this interview Bode shares his hopes for a more active pace from Washington to ease regulation, reform taxes and negotiate trade agreement to stimulate the American economy. While many fear a renegotiation the North American Free Trade Agreement, the CRA sees opportunity to enhance trade growth. Bode anticipates a better working relationship between the USDA and EPA to stimulate the bio-economy. Bode shares his thoughts on the transition of leadership at the USDA and the pending release of regulations to implement the biotech disclosure law approved by Congress last year