Candidates agree more than disagree about the future for farmers in rural America

Jager Robinson
Aug 6, 2020
Aug 6, 2020 Updated Aug 11, 2020

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

While not in person, candidates from several Minnesota congressional districts came together to discuss issues plaguing farmers and rural America during the Minnesota Farmfest Virtual 2020 forum meetings.

kAmsFC:?8 E96 27E6C?@@? D6DD:@? pF8] d[ r@?8C6DD:@?2= 42?5:52E6D 7C@> 5:DEC:4ED `[ a 2?5 e 42>6 E@86E96C @? +@@> E@ 4@G6C 2== E@A:4D C2?8:?8 7C@> E96 a_aa 72C> 3:== E@ C6DA@?D6 E@ 4@C@?2G:CFD]k^Am

kAm#6AD] y:> w2865@C?[ #\s:DEC:4E `[ p?8:6 rC2:8[ s\s:DEC:4E a[ 2?5 %@> t>>6C[ #\s:DEC:4E e[ H6C6 ;@:?65 3J E96:C @AA@?6?ED[ s6>@4C2E s2? u6692? 7C@> s:DEC:4E ` :? D@FE96C? |:??6D@E2[ #6AF3=:42? %J=6C z:DE?6C @7 s:DEC:4E a D@FE9 @7 E96 %H:? r:E:6D[ 2?5 s6>@4C2E %2H?;2 +29C25<2 @7 s:DEC:4E e[ 4@G6C:?8 E96 2C62 ?@CE9H6DE @7 E96 r:E:6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mr~'xs\`h E2<62H2JDk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 3:886DE E@A:4 @7 E96 52J C6G@=G65 2C@F?5 28C:4F=EFC6’D C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 8=@32= A2?56>:4 4FCC6?E=J DE2==:?8 E96 28 64@?@>J] |2?J @7 E96 42?5:52E6D 28C665 E92E E96 A2?56>:4 F=E:>2E6=J >2J AC@G6 36?67:4:2= 7@C 28 DFAA@CE 5F6 E@ :ED 2? F?7@C6D66? 4@?D6BF6?46 @7 9:89=:89E:?8 9@H 7C28:=6 E96 7@@5 492:? :D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am

kAmz:DE?6C 492>A:@?65 E96 >6DD286 @7 H2?E:?8 E@ 86E E96 64@?@>J 324< FA 2?5 CF??:?8 E@ 96=A 72C>6CD D6== >@C6 7@@5 2?5 4@C? 7@C 6E92?@=]k^Am

kAm“%96 7:CDE E9:?8 H6 DE2CE H:E9 :D 86EE:?8 E96 64@?@>J 324< FA 2?5 CF??:?8 H9:=6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@=FE:@?D 7@C >62E AC@46DD:?8[” z:DE?6C D2:5] “!6@A=6 2C6?’E 8@:?8 @FE]”k^Am

kAmw:D #6AF3=:42? 4@==628F6D @? E96 H63:?2C 649@65 E96 D2>6 DE2E6>6?E[ 2D<:?8 >@C6 7@4FD 36 AFE @? >2<:?8 DFC6 E96 64@?@>J 86ED 324< E@ AC6\G:CFD =6G6=D] w2865@C? 7@4FD65 @? E96 C6=:67 2DA64E 2?5 D2:5 E92E 96 9@A6D 96 42? 4@?G:?46 r@?8C6DD E@ 8:G6 >@C6 7@C =:G6DE@4< AC@5F46CD :? E96 ?6IE r~'xs C6=:67 3:== E92E :D 36:?8 5:D4FDD65]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 E@ DFDE2:? @FC 72C>6CD E9C@F89 @?6 D:56 @7 E96 4@C@?2G:CFD E@ E96 @E96C[” w2865@C? D2:5]k^Am

kAmu6692? 362E 2 5:776C6?E 5CF> 42==:?8 @FE E96 =24< @7 ?2E:@?2= DEC2E68J 7@C E96 D9@CE4@>:?8D @7 E96 64@?@>J @G6C E96 =2DE 76H >@?E9D] w6 D2:5 E92E :7 E96C6 H2D 2 ?2E:@?2= A=2? :? A=246 E@ =:>:E E96 DAC625 @7 E96 G:CFD[ >@C6 p>6C:42?D H@F=5 36 4@>7@CE23=6 8@:?8 @FE 2?5 C6EFC?:?8 E@ ?@C>2= 24E:G:E:6D]k^Am

kAm“%9:D 72=D6 49@:46 @7 @A6?:?8 FA @C 92G:?8 2 ?2E:@?2= 962=E9 4C:D:D :D?’E C62=[” u6692? D2:5]k^Am

kAmp== D:I 42?5:52E6D C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE 9@H ;FDE 2 76H A24<:?8 A=2?ED 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 4C:AA=65 >62E DFAA=J 2?5 9@H r@?8C6DD 42? 96=A 7:I E92E]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 >@C6 >62EA24<:?8 4@>A6E:E:@? 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[” w2865@C? D2:5]k^Am

kAm(96? E96 A2?56>:4 :D @G6C[ AC6A2C:?8 7@C E96 ?6IE 5:D2DE6C D9@F=5 DE2CE H:E9 =@@<:?8 2E 8@:?8 “E96 =2DE >:=6” 7@C CFC2= 3C@2532?5 4@??64E:G:EJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ w2865@C? 2?5 t>>6C]k^Am

kAm“%9:D :D 2D :>A@CE2?E 2D 3F:=5:?8 @FE @FC 9:89H2J DJDE6>[” t>>6C D2:5] “x?7C2DECF4EFC6 D9@F=5 DE2CE H:E9 3C@2532?5 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6 D9@F=5 36 36?62E9 :E]”k^Am

kAm“tG6CJ@?6 H9@ =:G6D :? CFC2= 2C62D 56D6CG6D E@ 92G6 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 @7 E9@D6 :? >@C6 FC32? 2C62D[” w2865@C? 25565]k^Am

kAm#FC2= 3C@2532?5 H@F=5 2=D@ AC@>@E6 H:56D42=6 E6=6962=E9 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ E9@D6 H9@ =:G6 :? G6CJ C6>@E6 A2CED @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mt?6C8J 2?5 #6?6H23=6 uF6= $E2?52C5Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr2?5:52E6D 28C665 E92E H@C<:?8 H:E9 DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D E@ @A6? FA E96 {:?6 b A:A6=:?6 7@C EC2?DA@CE:?8 @:= D66>D E@ 36 E96 36DE A=2? 7@C E96 DE2E6] rC2:8 D2:5 :E H@F=5 36 D276C E92? EC2?DA@CE:?8 4CF56 @:= @? C2:=H2JD]k^Am

kAmt>>6C 649@65 E92E 2?5 D2:5 E92E #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED D9@F=5?’E 5:D28C66 @? E96 A:A6=:?6[ C2E96C E96J D9@F=5 4@>6 E@86E96C 2?5 F?56CDE2?5 E92E :E’D D276C E92? 2?J C2:= 2=E6C?2E:G6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm“xE’D ?@E :>A@CE2?E 7@C #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED[ :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C @FC 64@?@>J 2?5 7@C |:??6D@E2[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw2865@C? 25565 E92E :E’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C <66A:?8 6?6C8J AC:46D 5@H?] u6692? 2?5 %2H?;2 +29C25<2 D2:5 :? 255:E:@? E@ 2?J 6?6C8J A=2? 7@C 7@DD:= 7F6=D E96C6 ?665D E@ 36 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 C6?6H23=6 A=2? 2=@?8 H:E9 :E]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 E@ 7@==@H E96 724ED 2?5 E96 52E2 @? H92E’D D276 7@C E96 6?G:C@?>6?E[” +29C25<2 25565] “(6 ?665 2 4=62? 7FEFC6]”k^Am

kAmtG6CJ 42?5:52E6 2=D@ 28C665 @? AFD9:?8 3:@7F6=D E@ E96 7@C67C@?E @7 ?2E:@?2= 6?6C8J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D E@ 96=A 72C>6CD] rC2:8 D2:5 D96 92D H@C<65 4=@D6=J H:E9 E96 28 4@>>:EE66 :? 96C 7:CDE E6C> E@ AFD9 :? 2?J 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE 7F6=]k^Am

kAm“x 2> 2 DEC@?8 DFAA@CE6C @7 3:@7F6=D 2?5 x 96=A65 >2<6 DFC6 3:@7F6=D 2C6 A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmt>>6C D2:5 E92E ?@ >2EE6C E96 @FE4@>6 7C@> C6?6H23=6 7F6= E2=<D[ 96 9@A6D 72C>6CD 42? 36 E96 5C:G6CD @? E96 4@?G6CD2E:@?[ 8:G6? E96:C 6DE23=:D965 AC24E:46D @7 AC6D6CG:?8 2?5 4@?D6CG:?8 C6D@FC46D]k^Am

kAm“u2C>6CD 2C6 E96 @C:8:?2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2=:DED 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:@?:DED[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm+29C25<2 D2:5 E92E ?@ >2EE6C H92E[ E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 92D E@ DE2CE H:E9 2446AE:?8 E92E 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D C62= 2?5 27764E:?8 72C>6CD 2?5 2== @7 p>6C:42] $96 D2:5 E92E D96 9@A6D 72C>6CD 2446AE H:?5 2?5 D@=2C 7@C 96=A:?8 C65F46 42C3@? 6>:DD:@?D H9:=6 2=D@ 36?67:E:?8 7C@> E96 36?67:ED @7 92G:?8 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J @? E96:C =2?5]k^Am

kAm“u2C>6CD =@G6 E96:C =2?5 2?5 AC@E64E:?8 :E 7@C 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ?6IE 72C> 3:== 2?5 EC256 28C66>6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmpD E2=<D A:4< FA 23@FE E96 a_aa 72C> 3:==[ 42?5:52E6D D2:5 E96C6 ?665D E@ 36 492?86D E@ <66A 72C>6CD 7C@> E96 25G6CD6 :>A24ED E96J DF776C65 2D C6DF=E @7 4@C@?2G:CFD 2?5 @E96C C646?E :DDF6D]k^Am

kAm“u2C>6CD D9@F=5 ?6G6C 36 AFE :? E9:D A@D:E:@? 282:?[” u6692? D2:5]k^Am

kAmu6692? H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 2?E:\4@>A6E:E:G6 AC24E:46D 3J E96 4@?D@=:52E65 >62EA24<:?8 :?5FDECJ 255C6DD65] rC2:8 DF3>:EE65 D6G6C2= 3:==D 255C6DD:?8 >62EA24<:?8 4@?46C?D]k^Am

kAm“(6 42?’E H2:E F?E:= E96 ?6IE 72C> 3:==[” D96 D2:5] “(6 ?665 2 D276EJ ?6E 7@C AC@5F46CD C:89E ?@H] xE’D EFC<6J 8C@H6CD[ :E’D 42EE=6[ :E’D ?@E ;FDE DH:?6 AC@5F46CD]”k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 492?8:?8 E96 H2J E92E 3FD:?6DD :D 5@?6 E@ 36 72:C6C[ rC2:8 D2:5 E92E H@C<:?8 :? >@C6 C6=:67 >@?6J :?E@ 7FEFC6 r~'xs\`h C6=:67 A24<286D :D <6J 7@C 72C>6CD]k^Am

kAmr2?5:52E6D 5:776C65 @? 9@H C6=:67 >@?6J D9@F=5 36 5@=65 @FE[ 3FE #6A] t>>6C D2:5 96 :D 8=25 E96 A2?56>:4 3C@F89E D6C:@FD 28C:4F=EFC2= :DDF6D :?E@ ?2E:@?2= 5:D4FDD:@?D]k^Am

kAmpD :E C6=2E6D E@ 7FEFC6 492?86 E@ 7656C2= 2:5 AC@8C2>D 7@C 28C:4F=EFC6[ 96 2?5 9:D @AA@?6?E[ +29C25<2[ 28C665 E92E 2:5 42??@E 36 E96 7FEFC6 7@C 72C>6CD[ ?@C 5@ E96J H2?E :E E@ 36]k^Am

kAm“|@C6 EC256 ?@E 2:5[” +29C25<2 D2:5]k^Am

kAm~G6C 2 E9:C5 @7 72C>6C :?4@>6 :? a_a_ H:== 36 7656C2= 2:5[ t>>6C D2:5[ H9:49 :D “?@E 2 C64:A6 7@C @FC 7FEFC6]”k^Am

kAm#682C5=6DD @7 E96 A@<6D 324< 2?5 7@CE9 36EH66? 42?5:52E6D 5FC:?8 E96 7@CF>D[ 2== D:I D2:5 E92E E96J 2AAC64:2E6 E92E u2C>76DE 4@?E:?F65[ 6G6? :? 2 G:CEF2= D6EE:?8 7@C E96 J62C]k^Am

kAmrC2:8 D2:5 D96 :D 92AAJ D96 86ED E@ C6AC6D6?E CFC2= p>6C:42 2?5 72C>6CD 2D 5:D4FDD:?8 28C:4F=EFC6 :D @?6 @7 E96 =2DE 32DE:@?D @7 A2CE:D2? 5:D4FDD:@? :? r@?8C6DD 2D H6 D9:7E E@ 2 >@C6 D6A2C2E65 2?5 5:G:565 DJDE6>]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 >@C6 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 #6AF3=:42?D 7C@> CFC2= p>6C:42 962C5 :? r@?8C6DD D@ 3@E9 A2CE:6D C6>6>36C 72C>6CD[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D C62==J @?6 @7 E96 =2DE A=246D =67E :? 4@?8C6DD H96C6 H6 42? H@C< 24C@DD E96 2:D=6]”k^Am

Reach Reporter Jager Robinson at 605-335-7300, email jager.robinson@lee.net or follow on Twitter @Jager_Robinson.