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Obama: A no-brainer for agriculture
Published Friday, October 31, 2008
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Collin Peterson
I have the distinct privilege of representing some of our country’s hardest working farmers and agricultural workers, and serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture where we shaped the 2008 Farm Bill. As many of you know, I feel strongly about the importance of agriculture to this country. Farmers are part of the backbone of this country, responsible for our food security, and increasingly important contributors to our drive towards energy independence.
One thing I know for sure is that in order for our agricultural economy to be strong we’re going to need a President that we can work with. We need a President who understands the importance of federal agriculture programs, a President who will share our priorities and work with us to accomplish them.
I’ve taken time to study the records of both candidates and where the interests of Minnesota and American agriculture are concerned the only candidate who has supported agriculture is Senator Barack Obama. He’s not a perfect candidate – no one is – but at the most fundamental level, Barack Obama has shown me that he understands agriculture, appreciates its critical role in this country, and will work with farmers.
I cannot say the same of his opponent, Senator John McCain, who recently proposed abolishing the farm safety net and tax credits for renewable energy. Senator McCain has a long record of leading the charge against agriculture research, against biofuels, and against critical programs for sugar and dairy producers.
On all of the key issues for farmers and Minnesota agriculture, from preserving the farm safety net to developing renewable energy and making essential infrastructure improvements that are important to farmers, Senator Obama has been on the side of our nation’s farmers while Senator McCain has been against them.
Senator Obama has represented a key farm state and has maintained an open door to farmers from Illinois. He supported the 2008 Farm Bill, which will provide certainty and stability to producers and the entire farm sector, invest billions of dollars in conservation, and feed tens of millions of low-income families.
On the other hand, Senator McCain opposed the Farm Bill and said he would have vetoed it, just like President Bush did. This position has been criticized by leaders of numerous groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. It indicates to me that Senator McCain is badly out of touch with how agriculture really works in our country.
One of the most promising elements in our agricultural economy is the ongoing development of biofuels and other renewable energy sources. Increasing production and use of biofuels and other sources of alternative energy is decreasing our reliance on imported oil, injecting billions of dollars of capital into rural economies, and enhancing our local economies. The industry has grown from a combination of the entrepreneurial spirit and creative innovation found in American agriculture and the successful federal programs that helped lay the foundation for broader investment and growth.
Senator Obama strongly understands and supports these “ag-focused” energy development programs and even introduced legislation that created the first mandate for the production of renewable sources of diesel fuel. His leadership on renewable energy earned Senator Obama a Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union and endorsements from a number of Democratic and Republican former Presidents of the National Corn Growers.
Senator McCain, on the other hand, has one of the worst records in Congress on renewable fuels. He has repeatedly opposed and voted against all of the key biofuels programs and even said, “Ethanol has absolutely under no circumstances any value whatsoever.”
Finally, I’ve been impressed by the fact that Senator Obama has put members of his campaign team on the ground throughout rural American and has had them listening to what rural voters have been telling them. From what I can see he is an able leader who is committed to working with us for the good of agriculture – in Minnesota and throughout the nation -- and the rural communities who depend on it.
I believe that anyone who understands the economic importance of agriculture – and farmers in particular – should support Barack Obama.
Collin Peterson is the U.S. Congressman for District 7 in Minnesota. He represents Otter Tail County.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FFWoman (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coming from the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, this endorsement packs a big wallop to residents of Otter Tail County. If anyone is informed and knows what our farmers need, it should be our Representative Collin Peterson. Farming affects all of us, no matter what our occupation. And with a new ethanol plant right in our community, we certainly want continued support for biofuels.
We've put our trust in Rep. Peterson for quite a while now and maybe we need to do so again in our vote on Tuesday.
Posted by Stacey (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I look forward to the new government presenting a bill that allows american farmers access to our own farming products. For too long we've allowed so many items to be shipped in from overseas and I have had it! I trust our american farmers much more than any China made brand!
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have voted for Collin everytime. I won't again. FFwoman & stacey. Neither 1 of you have a clue what you are talking about. You can thank clinton for everything coming from China. Ethanol as a good biofuel is a joke. Its been proven that it makes as much pollution to make it, as it might save from the ozone. PBS's Frontline (Liberal tv) Even proved that the government knew this, but the dems pushed for it to help the so called poor farmers. I've been around here for 20 some years & there are no poor farmers around here.This is just another tax payer sudsidized welfare program for the well off, And some very rich farmers.
Posted by pilsnerurquel (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John McCain opposes subsidies for ethanol production. He'd rather build nuclear power plants and drill,baby, drill.
Posted by Synova (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ethanol subsidies might help farmers but they hurt everyone else. They don't save the environment in any way shape or form, so that's not even a plus.
Is what's good for you but really bad for people who have to buy food, a good thing? Milk prices are through the roof... if I can get a gallon for less than $4 I figure I've got a deal. Bread prices, too... food prices throughout the world are drastically inflated.
Did anyone point out at any time that the *obvious* result of subsidies for ethanol is pushing the price of food up and up?
If we're serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil as a nation (and not just getting more money in our own pockets) nuclear power is the bedrock of it... taking advantage of our own oil (drill baby, drill) is another (and Obama also promises to make Oil companies exploit our reserves) and taking advantage of *all* other alternative sources... biofuel too, (but not made from food crops!), solar, wind and everything.
Anyone who says they're for energy independence and isn't pushing nuclear to carry the base-load, is trying to sell you something.
Posted by retiredteacher (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Synova. Are you willing to have a nuclear plant or nuclear waste disposal near your home? If not, then you have no real argument for it. Human error is always a possibility and we've had plenty of close calls. Many experts believe what actually ended the cold war the calamitous disaster at Chernobyl. "Drill, baby, drill" is another big gift to the oil companies when we should be putting our resources elsewhere. Of course, Palin wants it, but we have about 3% of the earth's oil resources and they are not going to solve our problem. I was actually disappointed when Obama backed down and okayed offshore drilling. If I'm not mistaken corn prices have gone down considerably lately and so has oil, then why aren't other prices falling along with them if they went up with them? Is still think ethanol has great promise and it can't be any dirtier than oil. I'd much rather see our farmers profiting than either Exxon or the Saudis. Let them soak in their oil.
Posted by retiredteacher (anonymous) on October 31, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
89Heritage. McCain is just as big if not a bigger international trade supporter as Clinton, so is Obama, but the difference is Obama as usual takes a pragmatic approach and says not every trade agreement is a good agreement. There have to be safeguards built into the agreements to protect our workers and farmers, not just profits for large corporations such as Archer Daniels or Cargill. If you can think of a stronger voice for the farmers in this area than Collin Peterson, I think you're making up another Republican fairy tale.
Posted by apple (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jerry, you took the words out of my mouth. Most farmers I know are doing much better than their counterparts working jobs in town. This is a complicated issue, and I am not saying that a straight would be a good idea, BUT farmers voting for people who in turn vote to increase subsidies to the farms is clearly not working. Peterson is free to vote anyway he wants on all non ag bills, so long as he keeps the money coming into the pockets of the famers, they will continue to elect him. Remember the immigration bill that failed this year? The phone calls coming into our “representative”(who’s job it is to represent us) was 20:1 against the bill, yet peterson chose not to represent the people, because he knows the farmers will re-elect them.
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was back in Fergus in October, 06'. I thought I'd take a drive over to Breckenridge. Got a few miles out of Fergus on Hwy 210 and had to turn around. There was so much mud on the highway that driving 30mph was dangerous. I was driving my wife's Jaguar. Needless to say, I really didn't want to wreck the car. Why does the State of Minnesota allow the farmers to to trash a State Highway like that? That's just plain crazy. And on top of that, those same farmers collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in welfare payments. Talk about redistribution of wealth?
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on November 1, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's my wife's car. What can I say? She might be a republican? After 38 years of marriage, she still won't tell me how she votes. I drive a Ford Escape Limited, myself. I get embarrassed when I have to borrow hers.
Posted by MNfrozen (anonymous) on November 3, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ok, My husband is a farmer, albeit a small farmer, but I have yet to see a check that would even cover an electric bill.
He has to work in winter doing other things to bring in money so our children don't get cold. I have to work outside of the home to buy our grocerys, gas and toilet paper.
Where is our welfare check???
Posted by FFWoman (anonymous) on November 3, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not a farmer or married to one but I sure know a lot of them who are by far not wealthy. Their wives are out working to help support the family because they can't live on the one income farming provides--including the subsidy check.
I used to question why the farmers got subsidies until I got to know some of the small family farmers and found out what it really costs them and what their profits really are. Personally, I wouldn't want the long hours with no guanantee of enough income to live on.
Posted by 89Heritage (anonymous) on November 3, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Small farms are on there way out. I come from a long line of small time farmers. I miss all the little dairy farms that use to be around. The small farmer is getting shafted. I don't mind helping them, To a point. But reality is, farming is a gamble. always has been. And as such, How much should the taxpayer be covering? Do we start taking care of pro gamblers? Corporate farming is taking over. And that is were we taxpayers are giving money to the Simplots, The RDOs, The Stocks Ect... And now Ethonol. Guess who grows lots of corn? Not the small farmer.
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