AgNet Weekly with Sabrina Halvorson

Named a Best Book of the Year in The New Yorker, Publishers Weekly, Chicago Tribune, and EcoLit Books and a Must-Read Summer Book by USA Today, the book the Parrot and the Igloo, Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky takes a deep look into the history of climate change and public views on the topic. Lipsky is a New York Times bestselling author and contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine. When his publicist emailed and asked about being on our show to talk about the book, we were happy to agree. David Lipsky tells us about his research and his new book on this edition of the AgNet Weekly. 

The International Fresh Produce Association recently held its Washington Conference, a chance for members and allies to learn more about policy issues and to talk with their elected officials about the issues that are important to the industry. To get an update, we’re talking with Rebeckah Adcock, Vice President of Government Relations for the International Fresh Produce Association.

Jacqui Fatka, Industry Analyst for Farm Supplies and Biofuels at CoBank, joins us to talk about trade and the decline in some U.S. ag exports.

A proposed northern California anti-agriculture measure could have an effect nationwide. The measure in Sonoma County would eliminate animal agriculture in that county. This week, we’re joined by Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Dayna Ghirardelli, to tell us more about the push to drive animal ag out.

A group of lawmakers is putting some weight on the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service in response to NASS cutting off some important reports. U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R-KS-01), who is also Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, is among lawmakers leading the charge to get a turn around from NASS. He joins host Sabrina Halvorson on this week's AgNet Weekly. 

The Environmental Protection Agency announced its final rule to designate the two most common PFAS chemicals as hazardous materials under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or CERCLA, and while these chemicals are not used on farms, this rule could have a big financial effect on many farms around the nation. To get more understanding and information, we’re talking with Courtney Briggs, Senior Director, Government Affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

This week we visit with Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) who tells us why he thinks there should be separate farm and nutrition bills. He also discusses farm labor and trade with host Sabrina Halvorson. 

In this week's episode, we talk with Jacqueline Heard, the founder and CEO of Enko Inc. about starting an ag tech company in the current business environment, the successes she's had, and the importance of building up the future of ag. 

This week we’re talking about prescribed fires, the protection they can bring, and the policies needed to improve implementation. Joining us on the phone is Fire Advisor and the Director of University of California’s Ag and Natural Resources Fire Network - Lenya Quinn-Davidson.

Joining us this week is Fran Miller, senior staff attorney and professor with the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law and Graduate School. We’re talking about policy recommendations to address issues facing U.S. agriculture, especially smaller or underserved farmers.