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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Sunday, May 12, 2024
This week's Open Mic features U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman and Kevin Kester, a California beef producer and vice president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. In this interview, Froman and Kester layout what they say are the short- and long-term advantages of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Ambassador Froman talks about the effect TPP will have on China and potential consequences of failing to ratify the trade deal. Froman and Kester also preview the next round of trade discussions with Europe in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks later this month in New York.
Jeff Nalley
US Trade Ambassador Michael Froman and Kevin Kester, VP NCBA
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. The Federal Communications Commission followed last year’s designation of broadband as a utility with additional support for internet service providers to bring communications to a larger section of rural America. In this week’s interview, Bloomfield discusses the complicated decisions involved with providing greater broadband access to farmers, rural businesses, schools, hospitals and more. But big questions remain on who supports those new revenue streams and if funding caps will allow companies to maintain affordable service for rural residents.
Jeff Nalley
Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA - Rural Broadband Assoc.
This week’s guest on Open Mic features Kendal Frazier, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In this informative interview, Frazier responds to the challenges presented by the EPA’s WOTUS rules and how new ozone standards can be a detriment to land management. On trade, Frazier says the TPP agreement must be ratified by Congress to maintain markets and gain access to the globe’s growing middle class. Frazier shares thoughts on a voluntary COOL proposal, the need for congressional action on endangered species laws and the ongoing effort with the CME group to address market volatility.
Jeff Nalley
Kendal Frazier, CEO of National Cattlemen's Beef Assoc.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Paul Johnson,
co-chair of the U.S. Ag Coalition for Cuba.
President Obama’s historical trip to Havana last week was another step
in the administration’s effort to normalize relations between the U.S. and our
closest Communist neighbor to the south.
In this interview, Johnson says Cuban policy is no longer “somebody
else’s issue.” Johnson believes Cuban trade policy has implications throughout Latin America and says Secretary Vilsack has changed the game toward better
relations between the two countries and in establishing new market
opportunities between the two sides.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Thune. In this interview, the South Dakota Republican shares his frustration with the chamber’s failure to craft a national voluntary labeling bill for foods that contain ingredients from genetically enhanced crops. Senator Thune points attention to the role the minority must play in bringing the issue to a successful conclusion. Thune also addresses President Obama’s plan to cut crop insurance funding and questions the administration’s commitment to seeing congressional approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. While Senator Thune supports additional trade with Cuba, he has reservations about the steps President Obama has taken to normalize trading between the two countries.
This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Snyder, President of Field to Market. With nearly 100 members and growth in active projects, sourcing programs and participating acres, the alliance for sustainable agriculture is answering consumer calls for transparency in food production. In this interview, Snyder discusses how the food production industry is placing greater emphasis on sustainability and responds to calls for federal standards to define sustainable agriculture.
