Agri-Pulse Open Mic Interview

This week's Open Mic guest is Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.The dairy industry has turned sour as the NMPF celebrates its 100th anniversary, but dairy farmers have high hopes for new policy and greater global market access.  In this interview, the dairy industry veteran discusses the challenges farmers face despite an amended federal dairy policy.  Mulhern sees no guarantee of a new farm bill and says debate over biotech disclosure legislation could be a precursor to upcoming debate over food and farm policy. Mulhern says the outcome of the 2016 election will set a definitive course for agriculture for the future of the dairy industry.Jeff NalleyJim Mulhern, President of NMPF

This week's guest is Representative Mike Pompeo.  The Kansas Republican served an integral role in developing his chamber's version of national GMO food labeling policy. Pompeo says it's time for congress to act and get the government out of the business of mandating labeling for inherently safe items.  In this week's interview, Pompeo discusses the Senate's biotech disclosure proposal and the path that language might find in the House.  Pompeo shares his view on global trade in response to the position of the leading candidates for the White House, ideas on the Renewable Fuel Standard beyond 2022 and the need for improvements in the nation's transportation infrastructure.Jeff NalleyRepresentative Mike Pompeo

This week's guest on Open Mic is Michel Nischan, CEO and Founder of Wholesome Wave, and an award-winning chef. The USDA announced a second amount of funding for the nonprofit to expand its healthy food initiative into areas of Connecticut and Vermont. The $500,000 was awarded through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program, enabling SNAP program participants to buy more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The program means better nutrition for consumers and increased opportunities for local farmers. In this interview, Chef Nischan shares his vision for the power of food to improve personal health, his thoughts on improving diets with fresh as well as frozen vegetables, and his ideas for the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Jeff NalleyWholesome Wave CEO Michel Nischan

This week's guest on Open Mic is Todd Van Hoose, CEO and President of the Farm Credit Council.  As the Farm Credit System celebrates its centennial this year, Todd Van Hoose says he's humbled by the achievements over the past century and excited about the opportunities in the next 100 years. In this week's interview Van Hoose discusses the troubled spots the industry is facing and says increased demands for government secured loans is a symptom of the challenges some farmers are facing. Van Hoose shares thoughts on the significance of the nation's crop insurance program, CFTC reform, the need for global trade and challenges the Farm Credit System continues to see from the community banking industry.Jeff NalleyTodd Van Hoose, CEO and President Farm Credit Council

This week's guest on Open Mic is Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, a genomics and biotechnology researcher at the University of California, Davis.  Her work in animal breeding was inspired by Dr. Norman Borlaug's efforts to resolve hunger issues with genetically engineered plants.  Van Eenennaam believes science has been left out of the debate over how foods should be labeled saying nutritional benefits are more important than how ingredients from plant varieties were bred.  Van Eenennaam notes a difference in society's acceptance of biotechnology in medicine versus that in food production where genetic engineering may provide the only sustainable solution to feeding a growing planet.Jeff NalleyDr. Alison Van Eenennaam-UC Davis

This week's guest on Open Mic is John Weber, President of the National Pork Producers Council.  In this interview, Weber speaks to opportunities and challenges on the horizon for the nation's swine industry.  While global demand for protein, especially pork, continues to grow, Weber and members of the NPPC adamantly support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement to grant greater market access to growth markets. At home, Weber says pork producers face challenges from the USDA's pending GIPSA proposal, the EPA on WOTUS rules, the country's preparedness to infectious animal disease, the industry's effort to further reduce antibiotics in swine production and a domestic inventory that could soon meet or exceed the nation's slaughter capacity.Jeff NalleyJohn Weber, President NPPC

This week's guest on Open Mic is Carl Casale, President and CEO of CHS Inc.  The cyclical pendulum has brought the ag industry from record highs to lows not seen since the early 1980's. In this week's interview, Carl Casale shares a view that the industry hasn't yet seen the bottom of the income swing. Despite the current challenge, Casale shares a bright view for the next generation of the industry with tremendous turnover in producer demographics.  Casale says CHS is pro-trade but believes the U.S. must step up spending on infrastructure to stay competitive.Jeff NalleyCarl Casale, Pres. and CEO CHS, Inc.

This week's guest on Open Mic is Chris Novak, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.  In this week's interview, Novak shares the global vision of the NCGA's most recent strategic planning process and the Washington legislative agenda including continued work on a national GMO food labeling standard.  He also reacts to negative opinions on global trade from the campaign trail and shares why the Renewable Fuel Standard is about giving consumers better environmental choices and not limiting the auto industry's choices to meet new economic and environmental standards. Jeff NalleyChris Novak - CEO National Corn Growers Assn.

Our guest this week on Open Mic is Colorado U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. With a family farm machinery business in operation for over a century, Senator Gardner shares his experience with the cyclical nature of the agriculture industry and the need for farmers to have access to new advances in technology to remain productive and profitable. In the discussion this week Gardner shares thoughts on the EPA and their new water rules and his view that water issues should be resolved at the state level. The Colorado Republican shares his view of the Endangered Species Act, the need for continued investment in the highways and rail lines of our nation and why he supports free trade agreements.

Jeff NalleySenator Cory Gardner - Coloradocorygardner.jpeg

This week’s guest on Open Mic is U.S. Senator John Boozman. As the U.S. Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week, the Arkansas Republican expects much attention will be devoted to the appropriations process with a view of accomplishing the major work on spending bills before the end of the fiscal year. In this week’s interview, Senator Boozman shares his view on crafting federal rules on GMO food labeling, funding sources for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the need for fair trade agreements and calls for flexibility in child nutrition standards. Senator Boozman says the appointment of a Supreme Court nominee adds to the agenda of the race for the White House in 2016.Jeff NalleySenator John Boozman- Arkansas