This week’s guest on Open Mic is Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. Since assuming the lead of the group in October, Cooper says the producer group is focused on increasing demand by breaking down legislative and regulatory barriers preventing real growth in the industry. Cooper comments on the financial hardship caused by the Trump EPA’s small refinery waivers to the RFS and shares thoughts on a legislative proposal to phase out the RFS in favor of a shift to higher octane standards in the nation’s fuel supply. Cooper says year round availability of E-15 blends will be most welcomed by producers, retailers and consumers across the country.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union. As Washington appears closer to approving new farm policy, Johnson fears the policy won’t be enough to protect farmers in the current market environment. He offers a strong opinion on the Trump administration’s trade policy with China and offers guarded support for the newly signed USMCA. For 2019, Johnson sees an opportunity for better legislation from both sides of the political aisle.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. In this interview, the Georgia farmer talks about catastrophic disaster in the country and the need for standard policy to address the lasting impact of natural disasters. Duvall hopes for a new farm bill before the end of the year and quick resolution to trade issues that have wreaked havoc on commodity prices and farm income. He also highlights the upcoming 100th anniversary convention of the AFBF in New Orleans and issues that will be considered by the delegate body in January.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Carrie Calvert, Managing Director of Government Relations for Feeding America. Despite the country’s surplus of food production, more than 12 percent of the nation’s population is food insecure. In this interview, Calvert weighs in on the nation’s nutrition assistance debate, the need for a farm bill, and Feeding America’s effort to deal with food waste. Calvert reports on how surplus food purchases under the Trump trade assistance program is helping provide much needed help to food banks across the nation.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Rod Hebrink, President and CEO of Compeer Financial. The lack of certainty from a new farm bill and weak commodity prices due to lost export markets and robust supplies have left farmers and lenders with a grim outlook for 2019. In this interview, Hebrink discusses the challenge of the unknown and the need for legislators and the White House to take action on farm policy, trade and regulations to help rural America prepare for the year ahead.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture Ted McKinney. While the Trump administration’s trade tactics have drawn both the praise and ire of commodity groups, McKinney’s attention to opening new markets and diversifying agriculture’s portfolio has been welcome news. In this interview the Hoosier native reports on his trade missions to Southern Africa and Central America as well as his hopes on bi-lateral negotiations with Japan and the European Union. McKinney also offers his thoughts on upcoming talks between the U.S. and China.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Polly Ruhland, CEO of the United Soybean Board. In this interview, Ruhland speaks to the challenges facing the soybean industry and the structural changes the farmer led group have made to refine their focus on both short and long term goals. Ruhland says collaborative efforts with commodity and industry partners as well as state organizations is helping grow demand in spite of present obstacles in global trade.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Paul Drazek, Managing Partner of DTB Associates. The Trump administration’s trade agenda has yielded positive results recently with new agreements with Korea, Canada and Mexico. However tariffs on steel and aluminum imports remain in place and continue to bring retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural commodities. Drazek questions the results of those trade deals and is skeptical of future negotiations with targeted nations by the White House. Drazek fears the ongoing trade war with China could linger.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Dr. Margaret Zeigler, Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative. The 9th annual GAP Report indicates a disturbing trend for global agriculture. While U.S. agriculture drowns in a surplus of bulk commodities, the global productivity trend falls short of the long range goal of meeting the food, fiber and fuel demands of a growing population. Zeigler says low income countries are especially deficient and would benefit from better trade relations, funding for research as well as public/private partnerships in food production.

This week’s guest on Open Mic is Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Soybean farmers are feeling the brunt of the trade war between the U.S. and China. Sutter shares how the trade war with China may incentivize global competition and at the same time reduce demand for soybeans. In this interview, Sutter outlines the industry’s short and long term strategy to maintain global market share and actually grow global market opportunities for U.S. growers.