Page 42 2024 Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct 2024 opportunities for all farmers and ranchers. Trump, on the other hand, while also focusing on the economic side of things, addressed energy. “I commit to lowering your energy bills by half in the first year,” Trump wrote. He also promised to undo many of the economic policies put in place by President Joe Biden that were hurting farmers. Another major question asked was about labor shortages in the agricultural market. The Farm Bureau asked about the shortage in labor, as well as undocumented immigrants who work on many farms across the United States. Harris’s answer was centered around the H-2A visa program, as well as much of the work that she and Biden have already done. “This means,” reads Harris’s letter, “improving our legal immigration system to function better for our economy, farmers, and workers, and reform that includes both strong border security and an earned path to citizenship.” Trump’s answer, while shorter, also addressed the importance of immigrants to farm labor. “I will prioritize merit-based immigration,” said Trump, “ensuring those admitted to our country contribute to our economy and strengthen our country.” A third important area the Farm Bureau asked the candidates about was climate and climate reform. “How would you ensure that climate regulations do not hamper American productivity and competitiveness?” they asked. Harris’s answer centered around the Inflation Reduction Act. The act “included a $20 billion investment to help the agricultural community adopt and expand conservation strategies through climate-smart agriculture,” Harris’s letter said. Trump’s answer mainly focused on undoing things that Biden has done during his presidency. “I pledge to terminate the Green New Deal,” Trump said, while also promising to dismantle the “‘net zero’ policy of high cost energy that is a millstone around the future of the American economy.” Trump went on to state that he is committed to making sure America has the cleanest water and air. While questions regarding many other issues were asked, there are too many to review here. If you would like to read any of the candidate’s above answers in more detail, or see their answers to the other questions that were asked, you can find the Farm Bureau’s publication on the matter here. While it is impossible to know what is going to happen with the 2018 Farm Bill, it is important to have all the information you can find on it. Even if you are not a farmer or rancher, the effects of having let the farm bill expire are likely to be felt by anyone who purchases any American made food in the grocery store, which is a lot of it. Make sure you have all your information before you go to make your voice heard in November. [Matt Boutcher] Reources: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/ house-bill/2 https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/ farm-bill https://www.fb.org/market-intel/what-happenswhen-a-farm-bill-dies https://www.fb.org/presidential-candidatequestionnaire
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