This week's Open Mic guest is House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig. Before the release of the Farm and Family Freedom Act framework last week, the Minnesota Democrat spoke with Agri-Pulse on the sidelines of the American Farm Bureau Federation  convention. Craig expressed dismay with ICE raids in Minnesota and discussed the impacts on farm labor. Craig says her members are willing to compromise on a new farm bill this year,  but will not accept certain types of legislation such as language dealing with pesticide labeling. She also discusses the new dietary guidelines.

This week's Open Mic guest is Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute. Bodor says AFFI is pleased with the call for more whole and nutrient dense foods in the new dietary guidelines because frozen foods offer exceptional food quality, nutrition and less food waste. She explains other advantages of the frozen category and why AFFI is hopeful for a new farm bill with opportunities for frozen foods. Bodor also shares industry concerns over a patchwork of state regulations on food labels and food packaging.

This week's Open Mic guest is Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation and a third-generation Georgia farmer. The group's annual meeting is coming up in Anaheim, California next week and features key ag leaders from Washington. Duvall previews what his members would like to hear from those leaders on a variety of issues such as labor, high input costs and New World Screwworm. He says they are grateful for the Bridge Financial Assistance offered by the Trump administration, but the resources aren't adequate to meet the financial struggles facing many producers in 2026.

This week's Open Mic guest is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.  Prices and trade policy have challenged U.S. soybean exports, especially as large volumes of Brazilian soybeans have displaced traditional sales to China. Having met with Chinese industry and government officials, Sutter says the Chinese want a better trade relationship with the U.S. but he is also focused on market diversification. He believes the higher quality of U.S. soy and sustainable production practices should lead to a rebound in global sales.

This week's Open Mic guest is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson. While another year has come and gone without a completely updated farm bill, Thompson says he is pleased with financial assistance approved last year and farm program updates included in budget reconciliation this summer. Thompson hopes to begin markup of the remaining farm bill in January and to address additional farm financial assistance beyond the farmer bridge assistance coming from USDA.

This week's Open Mic guest is Kevin Burkum, CEO of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action. The group took a new name and mission in 2021 representing over 700,000 row crop and livestock producers as well as supporting industry. The association seeks opportunities for collaboration, information-sharing and solution development for the full ag value chain. USFRA seeks to be a connective and unifying voice for U.S. agriculture. Burkum discusses the most recent COP30 meeting in Brazil, an upcoming biofuels report, and other opportunities where agriculture's voice may be heard.

This week's Open Mic guest is Tom Zacharias, President of National Crop Insurance Services. As risk factors for crop and livestock farmers have grown over the years, crop insurance has become a critical tool to manage risk not only from catastrophic events but from intense economic pressure on the nation's producers. Zacharias says Congress provided much needed improvements in not only farm programs but crop insurance in HR-1 legislation earlier this year. He explains how this unique public-private partnership has evolved and key economic factors impacting insurance providers as well as farmers.

This week's Open Mic guest is Melissa Ackerman, CEO and Co-Founder of Planet Harvest. During the Covid pandemic, Ackerman worked with the Produce Alliance to provide channels for unharvested produce to those in need. Her work with the Farmers to Families Food Box Program led to a relationship with Ivanka Trump and the birth of Planet Harvest with a mission of incorporating sustainably sourced produce into the supply chain. Ackerman says almost a third of produce remains unharvested each year, meaning billions of dollars of losses for farmers and billions of pounds of food that could help feed hungry people.

This week's Open Mic guest is Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. Dairy farmers are seeing better financial returns than in previous stages of a traditionally cyclical market. Doud says beef demand is providing uncharacteristically strong income support for dairy calves and cull animals, while consumer's protein demand is a boon for the industry. Milk producers are hopeful the new Dietary Guidelines report and MAHA Commission will provide an additional boost for their industry. He also discusses agricultural trade issues with Canada, Mexico and China and the need to get negotiations back on track.

This week's Open Mic guest is Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers. As the group prepares to celebrate their 70th anniversary, sorghum growers face daunting challenges from a loss of export markets and a future that hinges on developing domestic demand from renewable fuels and new market opportunities. He says the race for acres is an obstacle for growers as is adequate water to raise crops and maintaining profitability for growers who face rising input costs. Farm policy improvements in HR-1 were a benefit for growers, but Lust says they still need advancements in a new farm bill.