It’s been a year of shakeup for international assistance after the abrupt closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development. We ask former Ag Secretary and current World Food Prize Foundation CEO Tom Vilsack about how the approach to international aid can be reinvented, the feasibility of moving the Food for Peace program to USDA, and whether he’s concerned President Trump’s tariff policy could affect long-term market access for U.S. farmers.Plus, 2025 World Food Prize Laureate and Embrapa Soybean researcher Mariangela Hungria joins the show to discuss her life's work advancing soil microbiology, how Brazilian farmers have embraced biologicals, and how the “Micro Green Revolution” has changed the trajectory of agriculture in Brazil.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The government is still shut down amid a congressional stalemate. Minnesota Democrat Sen. Tina Smith discusses which farmer-facing programs she's worried could be affected. She also expresses concern that the U.S. is losing export markets because of trade disruptions.Then, American Soybean Association CEO Steve Censky looks back at what the first Trump administration learned from delivering two rounds of Market Facilitation Program payments, and how that experience could guide the upcoming economic aid payments ag groups are requesting. Farmers for Free Trade executive director Brian Kuehl also joins the show to discuss the group's cross-country motorcade for trade.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Harvest is underway, but there's still uncertainty about where some of those crops will go. We asked North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven if he thinks the U.S. is losing valuable global markets and how bailout trade aid payments for farmers could be funded through tariff revenue.Also on the show, Virginia Houston with the American Soybean Association and Joe Glauber from the International Food Policy Research Institute discuss what China’s recent soybean purchase from Argentina means for the U.S. and if it's concerning to not see an October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report because of the government shutdown.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Hundreds of women gathered in Orlando for the Women in Agribusiness Summit. We spoke with Alejandra Castillo from the North American Export Grain Association about how the ag sector could be affected by port fees set to go into effect Oct. 14. We also ask Polly Ruhland with FTI Consulting about the shifting dynamic between food producers and consumers, and Maria McWhorter from Kynetec about farmers’ views of the farm economy.Sara Neagu-Reed was awarded the Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence at the event. We discuss how her upbringing in Oakland, California, and roots in Romania have guided her career.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

China, the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans, has yet to make a purchase from this fall's crop. We asked executive head of Terrain Ag John Newton how long the lack of purchasing could go on, if U.S. grain storage capacity can accommodate the bin-busting crop with limited export markets, and how softening interest rates may affect the farm economy.Plus, Krista Swanson from the National Corn Growers Association discusses a recent survey that shows a majority of corn farmers see an economic crisis brewing and Brandon Lipps with Caprock Strategies explains the potential far-reaching impacts of the Make America Healthy Again Commission's final report on other pieces of policy like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Make America Healthy Again Commission unveiled a final report which suggests easing some regulations on farms, increasing research on precision agriculture technology and removing restrictions on whole milk sales in schools. We asked Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall about the report and how MAHA could expand through states in the future.Then, T.A. Hawks with Monument Advocacy and Mike Stranz with the National Farmers Union discuss trade, concerns about brain drain at USDA and the prospects for emergency farm assistance as well as a skinny farm bill this fall.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Congress has returned to Washington after the August recess. House Ag Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson tells us he still wants to take committee action on “farm bill 2.0” in September and is eyeing including farm aid payments funded through tariff revenue. During our conversation, we discuss some of the top issues facing agriculture this fall: Farm income, trade, ag labor reform, the USDA reorganization plan, and his priorities in "farm bill 2.0." Then, Callie Eideberg with the Vogel Group and Tom Sell with Combest, Sell & Associates discuss the USDA’s farm income forecast, trade and the possibility of farm aid payments this fall.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Harvest is quickly approaching, but grower groups and the ag industry are on edge as China has yet to make a purchase from the fall U.S. soybean crop. At the Farm Progress Show, we asked American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland about the letter ASA sent to President Trump urging a trade deal with China and about his conversation with Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden at the show. Rabobank's Stephen Nicholson says he thinks circumstances have changed too much since the China Phase One trade agreement to secure a similar deal now.Plus, National Corn Growers Association first vice president Jed Bower says the expected record corn crop is causing a push for year-round E-15. Austin Gellings from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers discusses how equipment companies are dealing with tariffs and Robb Ewoldt with the United Soybean Board discusses diversifying uses of U.S. soy both domestically and internationally.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

China has not made any U.S. soybean purchases from this fall's crop, which has growers concerned about the relationship with the largest U.S. soybean purchaser ahead of harvest. We asked Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, about the trade landscape and what he's watching for in USDA’s quarterly ag trade outlook due out next week. Plus, we discuss how NASDA members are partners in New World screwworm eradication efforts.Then, Texas State Veterinarian Dr. Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges and Boehringer Ingelheim's Steve Boren discuss Ag Sec. Brooke Rollins' recent New World screwworm investment in Texas and the private sector's role supporting eradication and treatment efforts.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The public is anxiously awaiting the release of the second Make America Healthy Again Commission report. Cathy Burns, president and CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association, discusses the opportunities her group sees in the upcoming guidance, the need for ag labor reform and when consumers may begin to see higher produce prices caused by tariffs.Plus, Dan Basse from AgResource Company discusses USDA's bin-busting corn crop projections and China's lack of soybean purchasing this year. Becky Rasdall Vargas from the International Dairy Foods Association joins the conversation to discuss the current trade landscape and the foreign shipbuilding port fees that will go into effect this fall.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD