AgriTalk

Guest host Tyne Morgan has a conversation with Greg Peterson – Machinery Pete – about his Pick of the Week plus why auctions continue to see record-breaking prices. Farm Journal's Margy Eckelkamp of The Scoop joins AgriTalk guest host Tyne Morgan to discuss adjustments and changes in ag buyer/seller relationships due to COVID-19. And Dr. Gary Adams of the National Cotton Council of America talks about how the heat is devastating to many cotton crops in the South, especially Texas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for the Friday Free-for-all and Pro Farmer policy editor Jim Wiesemeyer, RealAg Radio's Shaun Haney and farmer and past NCGA president Pam Johnson discuss policy in Washington, trade with China (and Mexico and Canada), and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Michael Gunderson, head of agricultural research and strategy at MetLife Investment Management, joins us to discuss the recovery, present and future, for the ag economy. Sonja Begemann, seeds and production editor at Farm Journal, brings us up to date with various litigation situations. And Susan Rhode, director of marketing at Farm Journal, visits AgriTalk to preview some of the events coming up in August 2020: the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Farm Journal's Field Days, and a virtual #FarmON Benefit Concert. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey with us this morning to discuss the hot, dry, windy weather. It's actually not ALL bad news. Plus we have the Farmer Forum with Don Lamb from Indiana and Randy Urmacher of Nebraska. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Elfmann grew up on a diary farm but wanted to get into policy for a career. He worked at NCGA early on but now he's Senior VP for Ag and Rural Bank Policy at American Bankers Association. He discusses A.B.A. and the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America ACT (ECORA) H.R. 1872/S. It's National Hot Dog Month and Eric Mittenthal, vice president of sustainability at the North American Meat Institute AND president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, joins us to provide some impressive facts about one of America's favorite foods. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg "Machinery Pete" Peterson talks about some amazing online auction prices (including amazing national and international participation) plus he previews a recent blog story about a man who needed to sell his machine. Randy Russell of The Russell Group joins us to discuss trade with China, the continuing pandemic, potential future aid from the government, and foreign events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The markets are closed in observance of Independence Day but we've got the Friday Free-for-all with Jim Wiesemeyer, Shaun Haney and Pam Johnson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have Grant Kimberly of the Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Soybean Association to talk about the soybeans and their role in biodiesel fuel. Ed Vallee of Empire Weather discusses the hot, dry weather we've been seeing and how much longer we may have to deal with it. And we're getting ready for Independence Day with a conversation with Jeff Shaaber of Valley Forge Flags, which are made in the United States from cotton grown in the United States. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (IA-3) joins us to discuss the Moving Forward act (money for transportation infrastructure), rural broadband access, and affordable healthcare access. Plus we have a special dairy-themed Farmer Forum with Dwayne Faber, Ryan Yonkman, and Farm Journal's Anna-Lisa Laca. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Weller, vice president of Truterra LLC, the sustainability branch of Land O' Lakes, joins us to discuss his recent appearance before the Senate Agriculture Committee over the Growing Climate Solutions act. Bill Bryant is co-founder and chairman of Bryant Christie Inc. to help companies and industry organizations throughout the U.S. develop, execute, evaluate, and strengthen their market access and market development strategies. Finally, Greg Warren is from the suburbs of Missouri, but he's interested in learning about agriculture. He's taken these experiences and turned them into a stand-up comic routine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning U.S. Senator Joni Ernst joins AgriTalk to discuss her opposition to the nomination of Doug Benevento to become EPA's Deputy Administrator until the agency reveals their plans to handle gap year RFS waivers from oil refineries. Robert White is vice president of the Renewable Fuels Association and he describes recently visiting seven ethanol plants plus progress being made to produce more E-15. In the news we talk about a potential PPD situation for dairy farmers. And, of course, we have Greg "Machinery Pete" Peterson and Michael Clark from BAM WX. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a rousing Friday Free-for-all today with Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer, Real Agriculture's Shaun Haney, and farmer and former NCGA president Pam Johnson. Topics includes the U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's blocking Doug Benevento's confirmation to become Deputy Administrator at EPA, health care, Bayer's settlement over Roundup, what does Ford's hybrid F150 mean for the future of liquid fuel, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Bliley, vice president of regulatory affairs for Growth Energy, joins us to discuss ethanol issues and Growth Energy's priorities (promoting E-15). Ross Miranti is a manager of partnerships and development for One Acre Fund, which is fighting the hunger season in Africa. Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) returns to discuss his thoughts on the Dicamba ruling, CFAP, and the need to learn the results of the Tyson fire investigation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AgriTalk was honored to have Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, on the program this morning. He talks about the status of Phase-1, the possibilities for Phase-2, and addresses rumors concerning trade with China. In today's Farmer Forum we talk conservation efforts with Wayne Fredericks of Iowa and Laurie Isley of Michigan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday’s first hour of AgriTalk told host Chip Flory that Phase-1 of the trade agreement between the U.S. and China is very much intact. Ambassador Lighthizer did not rule out a decoupling of the U.S. from China, but he made it clear the Trump Administration and his team at USTR are working to enforce existing trade agreements and to continue negotiations on Phase-2. Ambassador Lighthizer also said, contrary to earlier reports, the Chinese government did not order state-owned companies to “pause” purchases of U.S. ag products. Those purchases under Phase-1 of the agreement are to total more than $30 billion in calendar year 2020, according to Lighthizer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.