Column: A Clear Choice to Support Farmers

October 27, 2020

Print This Article Share it With Friends

by Mike Naig (Iowa Department of Agriculture/The Rock Island Dispatch Argus) ... I want to bring awareness to the recent executive order signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In his order, Newsom plans to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. This follows previous announcements of the "Green New Deal" and various other proposals that have either been endorsed or cited by Democrat candidates from former Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and even Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield.

These ill-conceived concepts and policies all have one thing in common – they are bad for Iowa agriculture and farmers. These proposals would drastically erode the market for Iowa ethanol and biodiesel. A robust renewable fuel industry is important to Iowa farmers and rural America.

...

The State of California is one of the largest importers of our state’s biofuels. Our homegrown ethanol and biodiesel offer consumers a clean-burning, reliable fuel source we should be expanding access to – not restricting. READ MORE

Letter: Free markets (Quad City Times)

Why Collin Peterson deserves to be re-elected (Marshall Independent)

Biden farms for crucial votes in Trump Country (Reuters)

'Farming is in a funny place politically': Will farmers still vote for Trump after 4 tough years? (Indy Star)

Pence calls for 'Great American Comeback' in Des Moines campaign stop (KMA Land)

Know Where the Candidates Stand (Emmetsburg News)

Letters to the Editor: Lifelong Republican Farmers See Better Times Ahead With Biden (DTN Progressive Farmer)

Trump winning farm vote despite pinch of trade policies, pandemic (The Hill)

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS TALK AG DURING FINAL STRETCH (Brownfield Ag News)

Why Iowa Is in Play: With Covid-19 and devastating storms, the state needs smart government — and Joe Biden has ideas for governing. (New York Times)

In China, I saw how Joe Biden’s approach has harmed Iowans for generations: From decades of financial oppression under bad trade deals with China to Biden’s Obamacare scam, Iowa seniors have seen it all. (Des Moines Register)

Excerpt from Marshall Independent: As ranking member of the House Ag Committee, he (Collin Peterson) has enormous influence on all ag legislation and more importantly he plays a pivotal role in negotiations with the Senate and White House on final drafts of bills. He has earned the respect of House members and others on Capitol Hill with his respectful conduct and willingness to listen.

If he were not re-elected, the chairmanship of the committee would probably pass to a Democrat from Georgia or one from California. The ranking Republican is from Texas. Do we really want to replace him with Michelle Fischbach, who would not even be guaranteed a position on the ag committee? Even if she could secure a seat on the committee, she would be one of 49 members and at the bottom of the seniority list. It would take her many years to work her way up to any type of leadership position. Where does that leave all Midwest farmers and their concerns? Where does it leave those of us in Congressional District 7? Look how ineffective Republican Senators from the Midwest have been in protecting ethanol from Trump’s waivers.

...

Many farmers support Trump because they feel over-regulated and that he will continue to cut regulations and make us all rich. If Trump loses and so does Collin Peterson, who will be the common- sense voice sitting at the negotiation table representing us? Think this over Republican/Trump farmers. Collin Peterson is not a rigid idealogue walking in lock step with Nancy Pelosi or anyone else. READ MORE

Excerpt from DTN Progressive Farmer: Nebraska producers do not need a White House or administration that adds another layer of unpredictability, yet that is exactly what the Trump administration has generated over the past four years with their actions regarding trade, climate, and pandemic response.

...

Agriculture needs leadership in the White House that understands that we need to function in a global marketplace and that means reengaging other global leaders on trade access.

Agriculture needs leadership that understands that agriculture can provide meaningful solutions to the climate challenges facing our planet. We in agriculture see on a daily basis the impact of extreme weather events and are implementing practices to deal with erosion, nutrient and water management, and are actively sequestering carbon in our soils. Rural America is also well positioned to provide substantial amounts of alternative energy through solar and wind power generation and biofuels. The Trump administration has shown little interest in any of these solutions that rural Nebraska can offer. Instead, it continues full-fledged support of the fossil fuel and coal industries by granting RFS waivers.

...

As lifelong Republicans, we lament the fact that historical Republican ideals and values have been supplanted by a blind devotion to Donald Trump. We don't believe that our nation, and agriculture, can stand four more years of unpredictability, damage, and drama in the White House. While we may not support every aspect of the Democratic platform, a return to civilized discourse and respect for our old post-WWII allies would be very welcome and why we'll be casting our vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

-- Bart Ruth farms in Butler and Polk counties in Nebraska and is a past president of the American Soybean Association and an Eisenhower Fellow for Agriculture.

Ben Steffen is an employer and owner of a grain and dairy farm near Humboldt, Nebraska. READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp says if elected, Vice-President Biden would work to revitalize Rural America and the ag economy. She says Biden’s tax plan, which has been a concern for some farmers, would help them, not hurt them.

“What Joe Biden is trying to do as he looks at estate changes is to not affect the family farmer, but take a look at trust fund kids who inherit wealth from their parents and pay a lower tax rate.”

When it comes to renewable fuels, she says Biden will choose farmers over the oil refiners and their shareholders.

“The Trump Administration has chosen the oil industry every time.”

She tells Brownfield a Biden Administration would also make sure all forms of renewable energy, including wind and solar, are crucial to their agriculture and energy policies.

“But also the role that biofuels (like) biodiesel, that next generation of ethanol, can play in delivering renewable fuels." READ MORE

Excerpt from Quad City Times: Without the government mandates for oil refiners to blend ethanol with our gas, the demand would fall precipitously. I see the little signs on the corner of farms in our area that say, "free markets, not socialism". Does that mean that some of these producers are going to let ethanol stand with no government support in the "free market"? I bet not! READ MORE