This week's Open Mic guest is Illinois 13th District Representative Nikki Budzinski.  On the sidelines of last week's Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Budzinski said she was anxious to get back to Washington to work on budget legislation and farm policy. Budzinski is aware of the looming financial challenge facing row crop farmers and anticipates large federal outlays may be necessary to prevent significant farm losses. She hopes some funding cuts to Medicade can be restored and hopes the majority side of the aisle brings a spirit of bipartisanship back to the ag committee.

This week's Open Mic guest is Jill Bramble, President and CEO of the National 4-H Council.  Over 100 years ago the Cooperative Extension Service learned the younger generation was more eager to accept new science and technology. The growth was positive for farms and communities.  Today over 6 million young adults ages 8 to 19 are still embracing new technology to set career goals and improve the world around them.  Jill Bramble, President and CEO of the 4-H Council says a new farm bill is important to the continued success of growing the future of America through extension learning.

This week's Open Mic guest is Duane Simpson, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Simpson brings a wealth of experience from the private sector as well as farmer and retail associations. Despite a bolstering of Title 1 policy in the Budget Reconciliation Act, Simpson sees headwinds in Washington from completing the farm bill, labor reform and a resolution to many regulations facing farmers and the ag industry. Simpson sees a need for verifiable standards for words like sustainability and phrases like "regenerative agriculture practices".

This week's Open Mic guest is Ryan LeGrand, President and CEO of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council. The group recently celebrated its 65th anniversary and delegates voted to align their name with the practice of not only selling grains but also fuels and other bioproducts. LeGrand discusses some new export records, future market opportunities and the ongoing threats of global competition from countries like Brazil. He is looking forward to new trade deals and additional global market promotion dollars allotted in the recent budget reconciliation legislation.

This week's Open Mic guest is Laurie Wayburn, President and Co-founder of Pacific Forest Trust. Over 30 years ago PFT was created to find new economic incentives to reward private forest owners for conserving their lands and practice sustainable forestry. She discusses the important role forests play in protecting water sources, pollinators and wildlife habitat. Wayburn is concerned about staff reductions in the Forest Service and talks about pending legislation to protect more forests. The organization has conserved more than 270,000 acres and holds easements on more than 100,000 acres.

This week's Open Mic guest is Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. The Budget Reconciliation Legislation approved by Congress included significant cuts to Medicaid. Morgan says rural healthcare facilities are already financially strapped and bear the brunt of providing health care to a disproportionate share of the populous that depends on government assistance for their needs.  Morgan is hopeful legislators will find additional funds to assist rural communities who may lose hospitals, healthcare clinics and long-term care facilities unless those funds are restored.

This week's Open Mic guest is Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, President of Field to Market. Soon to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Field to Market is working to unite the supply chain to deliver sustainable outcomes for agriculture. The group's Fieldprint platform provides credible and measurable results of multiple crops and varied production practices. Field data from over 6 million acres is included in the platform with a new version set to be released in September. Vollmer-Sanders says farmers need innovative financing options to adopt new regenerative practices improving soil health and other benefits for the environment.

This week's Open Mic guest is Peter Bachmann, President and CEO of USA Rice. A global glut of rice and unfair trade practices has put U.S. rice producers at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the globe. Bachmann says USA Rice strongly supports the Trump administration using tariffs to create market opportunities for U.S. producers. He also discusses prospects for a new farm bill.

This week's Open Mic guest is Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. HISA was formed as a legislative response to increased fatalities in horseracing. The body of industry leaders has been successful in establishing rules to protect both jockeys and animals. The successful evidence of their work is providing confidence for renewed  investment in the horseracing industry. Attendance at racetracks is growing and the industry is expanding, providing thousands of jobs across rural America and many urban areas.

This week's Open Mic guest is Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA The Rural Broadband Association. The Supreme Court confirmed the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund in a decision announced on Friday.  Bloomfield says NTCA applauds the decision as access to those funds is critical for expanding and maintaining broadband service to millions in rural America. Bloomfield says regulatory headwinds from the Trump administration are challenging previously approved work under the Biden administration. She applauds her members for providing broadband service to the nation but says there is still much work to be done.