Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Joni Ernst. From her family’s Iowa farm to the troubled lands of the Middle East, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has dedicated her life to the nation’s security: for ample food and against foes. In this week’s Open Mic Interview U.S. Senator Joni Ernst shares her thoughts on proposed legislative action to block the …
CEO Council on Sustainability and Innovation
Leading agribusiness CEOs, with the assistance of the Bipartisan Policy Center, have announced a new joint effort aimed to identify and promote innovative approaches to improving sustainability in agriculture and food production. The CEO Council on Sustainability and Innovation will officially be launched tomorrow, October 29 by leaders of DuPont, Elanco, Kellogg Company, and Land O’ Lakes. Over the next …
Ag Lawmakers Oppose Crop Insurance Cuts
While many are praising a budget deal that averts a government shutdown and the prospect of one until after next year’s elections, the deal isn’t being welcomed by many agricultural state lawmakers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) announced he will vote against the budget deal negotiated behind closed doors because of its raid on crop insurance funding. “I …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Kent Conrad
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Kent Conrad. As a former Chair of the Senate Budget Committee the North Dakota Democrat is well versed on the country’s challenging fiscal policy. In this week’s interview Senator Conrad discusses the appropriations deadline, the debate over the debt ceiling, the advantages to a two-year budget and secure long term funding for the …
2016 Prez Candidates Address Hunger, Poverty
Yesterday following the Iowa Hunger Summit, several nonprofit organizations including Feeding America, Bread for Life and the Iowa Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, launched the Vote to End Hunger Campaign. The initiative is to hold presidential candidates’ responsible for ending hunger and poverty in the U.S. and globally. The campaign was launched in Des Moines, Iowa they day before …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Rep. Reid Ribble of Wisconsin
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble. The 8th district Republican left the Freedom Caucus last week in the fallout from a failed attempt to elect a new House Speaker. In this week’s interview, Ribble outlines challenges the Congress faces in approving a spending plan and his efforts to bring about a two-year budget cycle. He sees …
NFU DC Fly-In Focuses on Top Issues
Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) are meeting with administration officials and Congressional representatives in Washington DC this week for the organization’s 2015 Fall Legislative Fly-In. “This fall has proven to be a very important time for several Farmers Union issues, including the path forward for voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL), the full implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …
Senator Roberts Happy About WOTUS Decision
A federal judge has put the brakes on the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule in several states, and that has gained praise from the chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) welcomed the preliminary injunction to stop the WOTUS rule in North Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming …
Clinton Unveils Ag Plan, Gets Vilsack Support
With a John Deere tractor as a backdrop, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton went where no candidate has gone yet – into a detailed discussion on agricultural issues. Introduced by former Iowa governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Clinton discussed her plan to support rural America and agriculture during a visit to Ankeny, Iowa Wednesday. Clinton’s plan includes …
Priority Issues for Missouri Policy Makers
Missouri State Fair’s legislator day brought policy makers together to talk about issues facing not only Missouri farmers and ranchers but about regulation that affects those involved with agriculture across the country. On that list was immigration. We have heard many of the front running political candidates give their opinions, but few have touched on it’s impact on agriculture. Missouri …