AgNet Weekly with Sabrina Halvorson

May 27, 2023: Former Mexico Chief Trade Negotiator Kenneth Smith Ramos

Kenneth Smith Ramos, former Mexican Chief Negotiator for the NAFTA and USMCA trade deals and current partner at AGON, was one of the speakers at this week’s USMEF Spring Conference. He sat down with Sabrina Halvorson after his presentation to talk about a number of topics, including specialty crops in trade deals, and how U.S. immigration discussions can affect trade relations.

May 20, 2023: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The Biden Administration this week announced the availability of nearly $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities to help rural energy and utility providers. They say the funding will help bring affordable, reliable, clean energy to communities across the country. Sabrina Halvorson talks with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to get more details.

May 13, 2023: Representative John Duarte on his H.R. 2 Vote

H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, passed in the House this week with a vote of 219 to 213, with all Democrats opposed and all but two Republicans in favor. Those Republicans were Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Representative John Duarte of California. 

Representative Duarte joins host Sabrina Halvorson this week to discuss why he voted against the bill. 

May 6, 2023: Representative Kat Cammack

Representative Kat Cammack joins host Sabrina Halvorson this week for a discussion on protecting seasonal and perishable produce growers in trade deals, controlling government regulations with the REINS Act, and more.

April 29, 2023: NCBA Opposition to PRIME Act

The PRIME Act has once again made its way into Congress. Current law exempts custom slaughter of animals from federal inspection regulations, only if the meat is for personal, household, guest, and employee use. So, to sell individual cuts of locally raised meats to consumers, farmers and ranchers must send their animals to a USDA-inspected slaughterhouse. Proponents of the bill like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) say it will make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. However, opponents like the NCBA say those USDA inspections are important for food safety and consumer trust.

In this week’s AgNet Weekly, Sabrina Halvorson talks with Todd Wilkinson, a cattle rancher from South Dakota and President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on why the association is opposing the act.

April 22, 2023: Congressman Austin Scott on Specialty Crop Needs & More

April 15, 2023: Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act was introduced this session by a group of Senators looking to make changes to agricultural checkoff programs. Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Ethan Lane says there’s more to it than that. He joins us this week on the AgNet Weekly podcast.

April 7, 2023: ASTA Farm Bill Recommendations

Research and innovation, fairness to farmers when it comes to conservation programs. Those are just some of the recommendations the American Seed Trade Association has for the 2023 Farm Bill. Joining us on the phone this week is President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association, Andy LaVigne.

April 1, 2023: Food as Medicine

Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association, joins host Sabrina Halvorson to talk about food as medicine and how some government programs can help people get the right healthy foods to battle illnesses that are affected by nutrition such as diabetes and heart disease.

March 25, 2023: Court Ruling on WOTUS, Black Vulture Relief Act Introduced

This week NCBA Chief Council Mary-Thomas Hart joins us to talk about the latest development in the WOTUS saga, after a split ruling in Texas. We also talk to Sigrid Johannes, Director of Government Affairs for NCBA and the Public Lands Council, about the Black Vulture Relief Act.