Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján discusses what farmers and consumers should be concerned about with the war. Luján also says nutrition issues could resurface in Senate farm bill debate. Plus, Ohio and Arizona Farm Bureau presidents Bill Patterson and John Boelts discuss specialty crops, data centers, and ag labor issues during farmer focus segments.

High beef prices have been a bipartisan concern, and a dozen Senate Democrats introduced legislation this week to break up the big four meatpackers. Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute, stopped by the studio to discuss the issue and MAHA's impact on meat demand. University of Missouri economist Seth Meyer and Brett Gibbs with Bloomberg Intelligence also discuss biofuels and what farmers should be watching as conflict in the Middle East escalates.

Thousands of farmers and agribusiness leaders gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for Commodity Classic this week as the challenging ag economy looms over producers. We ask National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman and Kansas farmer Amy France how tariffs are affecting sorghum growers, and introduce our viewers to Idaho farmer and incoming National Association of Wheat Growers president, Jamie Kress.Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency sent proposed final biofuel-blending rules for this year and next to the White House for review. Devin Mogler, president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association, and Scott Metzger, an Ohio farmer and American Soybean Association president, provide an update on biofuel policy.Kurt Coffey, vice president of Case IH North America and vice chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, also provides an update on how the equipment sector is responding to tariffs, and the demand trends he's expecting this year.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Agriculture Department is anticipating a slightly easier 2026 for U.S. ag producers, with prices for major commodities nudging higher and input and labor costs moderating. We sat down with USDA Chief Economist Justin Benavidez at USDA's annual Ag Outlook Forum to discuss the department's projections.Then, Tara Smith with Torrey Advisory Group and Laura Wood with LWP Consulting discuss what's included – and what's left out of – of the House Ag Committee's recently unveiled farm bill text, and what they'll be watching for during the markup beginning Monday, Feb. 23.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council has until Sunday to come up with a proposal to allow year-round sales of E15. We asked Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., a member of the council, about the status of those negotiations. Smith also discusses the latest push to renew the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement, which is scheduled for a six-year review in July.Plus, Jessica Schulken with The Russell Group provides an update on what she will be watching for in the House Ag Committee's farm bill text that will be released today, and Dan Basse with AgResource Company discusses the value of the USMCA for American agriculture.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Over 9,000 beef producers and industry leaders gathered in Nashville for the cattle industry's annual convention this week. We caught up with Ethan Lane from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association about the group's 2026 policy priorities, which include a focus on New World screwworm and trade. While New World screwworm has not been detected in the U.S., Steve Boren with Boehringer Ingelheim explains the threat of the flesh-eating parasite and how public-private partnerships are collaborating on prevention and preparedness efforts.Plus, Kevin Good with CattleFax forecasts when the cattle herd, now at a 74-year low, will start rebuilding. Kansas rancher Brandi Buzzard with High Bar Cattle Co. also joins the show to discuss her decision-making for 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

The Agriculture Department has temporarily taken over management of the Food for Peace program, which drives demand for U.S. commodities used as international food aid. We spoke with Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran about the program’s history and ties to Kansas, USDA’s commitment to distribute more than 200,000 tons of food aid by March, and his confidence that legislation could pass to permanently house the program at USDA.Plus, hear more about how the Food for Peace program would be improved, by moving it from the State Department to USDA, from our panel with Kim Cooper from the North American Millers’ Association and Dalton Henry of U.S. Wheat Associates.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Additional farm aid wasn't included in a government funding package but farm groups are continuing to push for additional assistance, including $5 billion specifically for specialty crops. Rep. Josh Harder, who represents part of California's Central Valley, joins the show to discuss the concerns of his district's growers: ag labor reform, tariffs, and reforming olive oil standards.Also this week, Congress punted legislative action on year-round E15 again by creating a council of lawmakers to study the issue instead of including legislation in a government funding bill. National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower discusses the devastating news for corn farmers.The dietary guidelines released this month encourage Americans to consume less processed food. Mollie Van Lieu with the International Fresh Produce Association explains how the guidelines could increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and which nutrition issues could arise in farm bill 2.0 negotiations.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders traveled to California for the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention where the group agreed ag labor is one of the top issues they hear about. We spoke with Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., and ranking member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in an exclusive joint interview touching on year-round E15, the future of the farm bill and ag labor reform. Plus, House Ag's chairman, Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Penn., and ranking member, Angie Craig, D-Minn., join the show to discuss a farm bill 2.0 timeline and what they'd like to see included in the bill.Plus, we connected with American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall to learn what he was hearing from members at the convention and how the current farm economy compares to the 1980s farm crisis.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD

Congress is back in Washington for the second session of the 119th Congress. We sat down with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., to discuss the future of year-round E15, prospects for a second budget reconciliation bill to be passed in 2026, and odds of a five-year farm bill being passed. "For me whether it's year-round E15 ... eliminating taxes on farm machinery, whether it's creating new tax incentives, whether it's redirecting tariff revenue to the farm community that is actually shouldering some of the burden," Emmer explained. "I support all of that."Plus, Callie Eideberg with The Vogel Group and Ken Barbic with Invariant discuss the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the future of a complete, five-year farm bill moving in 2026.Want to receive Newsmakers in your inbox every week? Sign up! http://eepurl.com/hTgSAD