Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., on Tuesday met with Brooke Rollins, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head USDA. Boozman also is pressing fellow senators to provide farmers with economic aid...
- Bryce Anderson
- John Baranick
- Alan Brugler
- Joel Burgio
- Jennifer Carrico
- Chris Clayton
- Lori Culler
- Katie Micik Dehlinger
- Brian Ethridge
- Myke Feinman
- David M Fiala
- Mike Fontaine
- Liubov Georges
- Anthony Greder
- Jerry Gulke
- Jerry Hagstrom
- Chris Hill
- Gregg Hillyer
- Greg D Horstmeier
- Duane Howell
- Todd Hultman
- Cliff Jamieson
- Jason Jenkins
- Joel Karlin
- Scott R Kemper
- Mary Kennedy
- Rick Kment
- Elaine Kub
- Urban C Lehner
- Loren Lindler
- Dana Mantini
- Rod Mauszycki
- Dan Miller
- Mitch Miller
- Darren Miller
- Rhett Montgomery
- Kathy Myers
- Todd Neeley
- Linda Nellson
- Richard Oswald
- Mike Palmerino
- Jim Patrico
- Susan Payne
- Russ Quinn
- Joel Reichenberger
- EllaMae Reiff
- Mary Roth
- Kim Ruberti
- Nick Scalise
- Robin Schmahl
- Beth Schweitz
- Philip Shaw
- Elaine Shein
- Pamela Smith
- Richard Smith
- DTN Staff
- ShayLe Stewart
- Lin Tan
- Tara Trenary
- Emily Unglesbee
- Doug Webster
- Teresa Wells
- Matt Wilde
- Scott Williams
- Elizabeth Williams
- Lance Woodbury
- Cheri Zagurski
Chris Clayton
Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton has been writing and editing for DTN/The Progressive Farmer since 2005 after working more than seven years as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald.
Chris has been recognized as writer of the year by the American Agricultural Editors' Association and won story of the year multiple times from the organization. He also has won the Glenn Cunningham Agricultural Journalist of the Year Award from the North American Agricultural Journalists and served as the group's president in 2012-13. The National Farmers Union and American Coalition for Ethanol also each have named Chris communicator of the year.
Chris graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993 with a degree in journalism. He has worked for news organizations in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Nebraska. Chris lives in Glenwood, Iowa, with his wife and children.Recent Blogs by Author
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Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to pass a funding resolution, disaster aid, and a farm bill extension. On Monday, Republican governors pressed Congress to pass a farm bill now rather than wait...
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Potential House Disaster Aid Standoff
The House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of roughly 40 GOP members, late Wednesday released a statement opposing a nearly $100 billion disaster supplemental bill. Other Republicans in both the House and Senate have called on lawmakers to...
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Federal Judge Blocks BOI Rule
An injunction issued Tuesday in the U.S District Court of Eastern Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Treasury Department from enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act's Beneficial Ownership Information...
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Farmers Optimistic Despite Ag Pressures
U.S. farmer optimism hit a two-year high in November, despite major layoffs and lower profits by companies such as Cargill, Tyson and ADM. While farmers foresee better finances and less regulation ahead, concerns about trade risks...
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Smithfield Offers Sows and Public Stock
Smithfield had announced plans to cut its ownership of U.S. hog production by as much as 20%. The shift in ownership of 150,000 sows in North Carolina to Murphy Family Ventures would likely achieve much of that goal. Smithfield's...
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Farm Bill, Funding Extension Loom
Congress faces a Dec. 20 deadline to pass a funding resolution, disaster aid, and a farm bill extension. On Monday, Republican governors pressed Congress to pass a farm bill now rather than wait until 2025 as well.
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Ag Trade Deficit Grows
USDA on Tuesday released its latest update of U.S. agricultural trade. The report showed a slight bump in exports to $170 billion for fiscal year 2025. Imports are expected to grow, reaching $215.5 billion.
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Trump Returns to Tariff Diplomacy
Agricultural commodity prices slipped slightly Tuesday in morning trade following President-elect Donald Trump's vow to impose 25% import tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on products from China.
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Trump Transition Team at USDA Stalled
While President-elect Donald Trump has picked an agriculture secretary, his transition team remains stalled in learning about some of the key issues at USDA and other federal agencies because Trump's team has not signed key...
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Agriculture and COP 29 Outcomes
U.S. agriculture will need to remain at the climate negotiating table under the Trump administration because of all the investments that have been made to reduce emissions and build resiliency on farms, Agriculture Secretary Tom...
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Trump Picks Next USDA Chief
President-elect Donald Trump has named Brooke L. Rollins as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. A native Texan with deep agricultural roots, Rollins will oversee USDA programs, advise on the upcoming farm bill and lead rural...
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Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Monday dropped her proposal for a new farm bill that she hopes Congress will take up in a lame-duck session of Congress. The farm bill is now likely on a back burner until a new Congress is...
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Iowa Soybean Buyer Accused of Fraud
David Wilcox was the president of Global Processing Inc., a buyer and exporter of non-GMO and organic soybeans. A federal indictment alleges the company withheld payments from farmers for Wilcox's personal benefit.
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Ag Sustainability and Policy Shifts
Rod Snyder, former EPA adviser, emphasized agriculture's critical role in addressing climate change during the Sustainable Agriculture Summit. He highlighted private-sector commitments will likely continue even as the new president...
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Ag Sustainability, Policy Shifts
Rod Snyder, former EPA adviser, emphasized agriculture's critical role in addressing climate change during the Sustainable Agriculture Summit. He highlighted private-sector commitments will likely continue even as the new president...
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What Goes Into Aid Package for Ag?
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing with officials from multiple federal agencies dealing with disasters. The hearing comes just days after the White House proposed a nearly $100 billion disaster package that...
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Prospects for Ag Labor Costly
Different groups are assessing what to expect under the Trump administration when it comes to farm labor and what the impacts of mass deportations could mean. A former adviser for agricultural labor in the first Trump term...
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Biden Proposes Disaster Aid to Congress
For USDA, President Biden proposed $23.5 billion in aid overall, the lion's share of which would go to help farmers and ranchers who have suffered livestock or crop losses due to hurricanes, drought and wildfires.
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Late Senate Farm Bill Pitched
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., on Monday dropped her proposal for a new farm bill she hopes Congress will take up in a lame-duck session. The farm bill is likely on the backburner until a new Congress is convened early in 2025.
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Black Farmer Demands Policy Changes
John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, urges equitable agricultural policies, timely credit access, and unity among farmers. He talked about credit issues at the national Agricultural Bankers Conference. He...
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Congress' lame-duck session may address a new farm bill and disaster aid, but priorities are unclear. With budget deadlines and aid requests from recent disasters, lawmakers face pressure to act.
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Trump's Tax Policies and Interest Rates
President-elect Donald Trump's tax policies and influence on the Federal Reserve could impact interest rates, deficits, and economic stability, with experts highlighting potential constraints, risks, and market reactions.
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Bankers See Ag Profit, Loan Concerns
A decline in producer profitability overall concerns bankers, though that varies by region and commodities. Lenders to livestock producers are more optimistic than bankers lending to crop producers. Overall, lenders also are...
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AFBF: Disaster Relief a Priority
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging Congress to prioritize a disaster and economic aid package for farmers over passing a new farm bill, citing urgent financial needs and expected delays in policy implementation.
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Midwest Crop Farms Face Losses
The Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota highlighted the state of farm finances Tuesday as the American Bankers Association kicked off its annual Agricultural Bankers Conference. The numbers...
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Congress and Ag in Lame Duck
Congress' lame-duck session may address a new farm bill and disaster aid, but priorities are unclear. With budget deadlines and aid requests from recent disasters, lawmakers face pressure to act.
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Trade Should Top Trump Ag Agenda
Indiana farmer Kip Tom, co-leader of the Farmers and Ranchers for Trump Coalition, urges quick action in the new Trump administration on trade deals as well as regulatory reform, to support U.S. farmers' competitiveness globally...
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Congressional Vote Update
There are 25 House races still to be decided, but Republicans are on a path to maintaining control of the House. Republicans captured control of the U.S. Senate for the first time in four years, but there are still three Senate...
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Trump Begins to Look Ahead
The election came down to Donald Trump carrying rural areas by wide margins while Vice President Kamala Harris won the urban and suburban areas by smaller margins than President Joe Biden four years ago. Republicans also won...
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Trump Leads Presidential Race
The results Tuesday night came down to Trump carrying rural areas by wide margins while Harris was winning the urban and suburban areas by smaller margins than President Joe Biden did four years ago. While the presidential race...
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USDA's EID Eartag Mandate Takes Effect
USDA's mandate for electronic identification (EID) eartags in interstate cattle movement took effect Tuesday. In response, R-CALF USA and allied groups filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the rule, arguing it exceeds USDA's...
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Six Things to Watch on Election Night
Along with the presidential race, voters face a pivotal election with numerous high-stakes issues at play. Major ballot measures on abortion and marijuana legalization across multiple states are driving voter turnout. South Dakota...
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H5N1 Testing and Oregon Update
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke to reporters Thursday about USDA's plans to expand the testing of milk across the country. He also talked about a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus found recently in swine...
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Vilsack Defends USDA Loan Oversight
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday defended USDA's overall loan portfolio following Pure Prairie Poultry's collapse, citing a small rate of overall losses. Pure Prairie Poultry's shutdown affected growers in Iowa, Minnesota...
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The Pulse of Rural America
Our DTN Progressive Farmer exclusive poll reveals strong support for former President Donald Trump and the top issues on the minds of farmers as they prepare to vote.
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Food Prize Laureates Step Into Election
A group of World Food Prize laureates has publicly criticized U.S. political candidates for ignoring the issue of global hunger amid a rising global food crisis. The laureates also stressed that addressing hunger is crucial for global...
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Convent Finds Legacy in Soil Health
Before he died, Ohio regenerative farmer David Brandt had begun working with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa to help create a farmer-led learning center on the convent's 343-acre farm. This has evolved into an initiative to...
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Creditors Force Broiler Depopulation
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) late on Friday issued a news release detailing its attempts to feed and manage the 1.3 million chickens after Pure Prairie Poultry shut down its operations of a...
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DTN Ag Policy
USDA on Monday announced the Farm Service Agency has started issuing to checks to producers for the 2023 crops. USDA pegs the payments under Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price would be $447 million.
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Survey Details Show Farmer Preferences
Here's a complete breakdown of the DTN/Progressive Farmer Pulse of Rural America Poll as it looks at the presidential race and some other key issues facing farmers as they vote in the Nov. 5 election.
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Rural Survey Previews 2024 Election
Our DTN/Progressive Farmer exclusive poll reveals strong support for former President Donald Trump and what are the top issues on the minds of farmers as they prepare to vote.
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Kennedy Targets Farm Policy, Has Plans
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argues that current practices damage both the environment and consumers' health. Under former President Donald Trump's campaign, Kennedy has several proposals for major reforms, including banning more farm...
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Close Senate Races Highlight Ag Policy
Key Senate races in battleground states like Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska could determine control of the Senate in the upcoming election. Republicans aim to flip seats held by Democrats, but a surprise race in Nebraska could...
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Breaking Down CRP Acreage, Rental Rates
The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has reached its highest enrollment level since 2013, with a notable shift toward Grasslands CRP, which supports grazing operations. Under the Biden administration, CRP acreage has...
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Breaking Down CRP Acreage, Rental Rates
The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has reached its highest enrollment level since 2013, with a notable shift toward Grasslands CRP, which supports grazing operations. Under the Biden administration, CRP acreage has...
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What Farms Need to Know About BOI
Farmers and small businesses must comply with the Corporate Transparency Act by Jan. 1, 2025, by filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. This new filing requirement...
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The House Ag Committee may have more competitive races among its membership than any other committee in Congress. Political analysts who track congressional elections show nine House Aggies -- five Republicans and four Democrats...
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Pure Prairie Poultry Fallout Continues
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Carbon Pipeline Law Faces SD Vote
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Ag Loses Billions in China Trade War
A new study released by American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association highlights another trade war with China could cost corn and soybean farmers roughly $5 billion to $8 billion a year in lost value. Meanwhile...
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USDA Seeks Input on Proposed AMA Rules
As part of an event on competition issues with farmers and producers at the White House, USDA released a new study on competition issues in the meat industry. USDA also announced a proposal to consider some regulatory...
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Aggie Toss-up Seats Could Sway Congress
The House Ag Committee may have more competitive races among its membership than any other committee in Congress. Political analysts who track congressional elections show nine House Aggies -- five Republicans and four Democrats...
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Poultry Plant Shuts Down After USDA Aid
A USDA-backed chicken processing plant in Iowa shut down, filing for bankruptcy, leaving 1.6 million chickens and numerous farmers without income, sparking animal welfare concerns across Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. USDA is now...
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Corporate Sale of Farms Detailed
Denver-based publicly traded real estate investment trust Farmland Partners Inc. is selling 46 farms across eight states to Utah-based Farmland Reserve Inc., a real-estate investment company operated by the Church of Jesus...
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Trying to Recover From Hurricane Helene
An agricultural teacher and livestock producer has been helping coordinate relief efforts for other farmers in her area in Transylvania County, North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
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Fiscal Plans Could Spike Debt
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Swampbuster Faces Legal Battle in Iowa
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Ag Worries Over Strike, Supply Chains
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Agriculture's Ambassador in US and Away
Kip Tom has served figuratively and literally as agriculture's ambassador.
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Federal Response to Hurricane Helene
A letter from a bipartisan group of lawmakers calling for disaster aid to help farmers comes after President Joe Biden indicated Monday that Congress will likely need to pass a supplemental disaster package to deal with the...
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NC Farmers Pull Together After Helene
While government officials contemplate the need for bigger disaster aid, local farmers such as those in Transylvania County, North Carolina, are trying to find ways to stay connected and share resources while waiting for some relief.
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Hurricane Helene's Destructive Wake
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Ag Shipping Concerns at Harvest
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Citing the need to support farmers who are dealing with declining crop receipts, 140 House members on Thursday wrote leaders to ensure a farm bill passes this year.
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Trump: Deere Will Face Tariffs
Speaking at an event in Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump said he would impose a 200% tariff on imported manufacturing products from Mexico. The president warned John Deere against moving manufacturing facilities to...
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New Meat, Poultry Processing Grants
On Sept. 19, USDA announced $35 million in grants under the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). Created as part of the American Rescue Plan, the MPPEP provided more than $325 million to 74 meat and poultry...
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Farmer Aid Urged Over Grain Prices
While cash receipts for crop farmers are expected to fall $26.2 billion this year just for corn, soybeans and wheat, the farm program safety nets, Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, won't offer any support with...
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Tyson Sued Over Climate-Smart Beef
EWG filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against Tyson in the District of Columbia, alleging on behalf of consumers that Tyson is making false claims under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act. Tyson has a program focused on...
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Farm Bill Extension Could Boost Support
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., on Monday said key lawmakers in Congress are looking at passing an extension of the farm bill that would boost support for commodity producers. That move could provide aid to farmers while lawmakers work...
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Commerce Adds Duties to 2,4-D Imports
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) expressed frustration with a recently released recommendation by the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose preliminary countervailing duty...
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WOTUS Rules Remain Muddy
Farmers and industry groups continue facing uncertainty over how the Clean Water Act (CWA) is being enforced following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA, which limited federal authority over certain wetlands.
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DTN Ag Policy
Agriculture and rural America were not mentioned but the debate did spotlight a few key issues for ag such as taxes, tariffs, illegal immigration and energy policies.
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Ag Policies and Presidential Election
Agricultural policy leaders from both political sides on Monday discussed the need for a new farm bill but disagreed on key issues like trade, taxes, labor and climate policy at a forum hosted by the Farm Foundation.
- Bryce Anderson
- John Baranick
- Alan Brugler
- Joel Burgio
- Jennifer Carrico
- Chris Clayton
- Lori Culler
- Katie Micik Dehlinger
- Brian Ethridge
- Myke Feinman
- David M Fiala
- Mike Fontaine
- Liubov Georges
- Anthony Greder
- Jerry Gulke
- Jerry Hagstrom
- Chris Hill
- Gregg Hillyer
- Greg D Horstmeier
- Duane Howell
- Todd Hultman
- Cliff Jamieson
- Jason Jenkins
- Joel Karlin
- Scott R Kemper
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- Rick Kment
- Elaine Kub
- Urban C Lehner
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- Dana Mantini
- Rod Mauszycki
- Dan Miller
- Mitch Miller
- Darren Miller
- Rhett Montgomery
- Kathy Myers
- Todd Neeley
- Linda Nellson
- Richard Oswald
- Mike Palmerino
- Jim Patrico
- Susan Payne
- Russ Quinn
- Joel Reichenberger
- EllaMae Reiff
- Mary Roth
- Kim Ruberti
- Nick Scalise
- Robin Schmahl
- Beth Schweitz
- Philip Shaw
- Elaine Shein
- Pamela Smith
- Richard Smith
- DTN Staff
- ShayLe Stewart
- Lin Tan
- Tara Trenary
- Emily Unglesbee
- Doug Webster
- Teresa Wells
- Matt Wilde
- Scott Williams
- Elizabeth Williams
- Lance Woodbury
- Cheri Zagurski