Where Candidates Stand on Agriculture

Presidential Candidates Answer AFBF Questions on Ag, Rural America

Todd Neeley
By  Todd Neeley , DTN Environmental Editor
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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump recently answered questions posed by the American Farm Bureau Federation on a variety of issues that affect farmers and ranchers. (DTN file photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- With the 2024 presidential election around the corner, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump recently gave a snapshot of where they stand on the issues that affect agriculture and rural Americans.

In particular, the American Farm Bureau Federation posted to its website a list of questions posed to and answers provided by the candidates exploring a wide variety of agriculture and rural issues -- everything from farm-policy programs, to clean water, to trade, and tax policy.

We'll summarize the answers the candidates provided on the most-significant issues.

FARM POLICY PROGRAMS

At the end of 2024 Congress has yet to pass a new farm bill, at a time when commodity prices are relatively low and prospects are dim on the farm income front in 2025.

The AFBF asked the candidates where they stand on farm programs: "As president, how would you be a proponent for enhancing farm policy programs to bring certainty to farm and ranch families through crop insurance, improved risk management programs and support for beginning farmers and ranchers, while also bringing much-needed funding to agricultural research?"

The Harris campaign said her administration would "fight to defend" programs that allow farmers and ranchers to "prosper, while Trump and his allies are trying to defund those programs."

The Harris campaign said Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz, "know how important crop insurance is to protect farmers from unforeseen changes in circumstances." The Harris campaign said a Trump administration would make necessities such as crop insurance "even more expensive."

The Trump campaign said farmers are "essential to our economy and our way of life."

Trump talked about the farm bill he signed into law that "improved agriculture programs and increased the amount of money that farmers can borrow."

The Trump campaign said he would "permanently end" the U.S. reliance on China for goods. In addition, the campaign said it would support access to and affordability of risk-management tools for farmers and ranchers.

"Improvements must be made to reference prices, crop insurance, dairy margin coverage and more specialty crop insurance," the campaign said.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Both candidates were asked whether they would be a "proponent for expanding trade" while "pursuing remedies" against nations that put up trade barriers and "shield markets" from competition.

The Harris campaign provided the following answer in its entirety: "As vice president, Kamala Harris has stood up to China's unfair economic practices to protect Americans, including farmers and ranchers. As president, she will not tolerate unfair trade practices from China or any competitor that undermines American farmers and ranchers."

The Trump campaign touted the previous Trump administration's ending of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the negotiating of the new U.S., Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The Trump campaign said he would work to turn the tide on a projected record agriculture trade deficit of $32 billion for 2024.

"Given that our farmers are the best and most competitive in the world, this deficit plainly results from unfair trading practices abroad," the campaign said in a response to AFBF.

"I will fight those barriers with every tool at my disposal, and I will make sure that other countries understand the consequences of blocking our farm products."

AGRICULTURE LABOR

U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to struggle to find reliable and skilled workers.

The candidates were asked what they would do to resolve what AFBF said is a "critical labor shortage" in agriculture. In addition, they were asked how they would address the issue of undocumented workers already working on farms and ranches, as well as how they would reform the H-2A program.

The Trump campaign provided this answer in its entirety: "To be successful, it is not enough to invest in our economy and agriculture -- we must invest in our people. Under a Trump administration we will grow more farm products in the USA and rebuild our country with American hands. A Trump administration will always put farmers and American workers first. I will prioritize merit-based immigration, ensuring those admitted to our country contribute to our economy and strengthen our country."

The Harris campaign said Harris and Walz "know growers need enough workers" to produce food.

"Which is why they have supported an earned pathway to legalization and eventual citizenship for farm and other agricultural workers, in addition to strengthening the H-2A visa program -- administered by both Republicans and Democrats for decades -- which helps fill seasonal farm jobs with temporary foreign workers," the Harris campaign said in response.

"The Biden-Harris administration has overseen a nearly 50% increase in the H-2A program and strengthened it by making the application process more transparent, making visas more accessible to employers, and supporting employers who comply with the rules so they are not undercut by those who don't."

The Harris campaign said instead of mass deporting workers and families, "Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz believe in tough, smart solutions to reform our broken immigration system."

ENERGY POLICY

The AFBF asked the candidates whether they would support an all-of-the-above strategy to energy production to include tax provisions to support biofuels and other domestically produced energy.

The Harris campaign said it was "committed to a future" that includes both American energy security and independence, to include a "clean-energy" economy that "creates good-paying jobs."

The Harris campaign pointed to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act -- for which Harris cast the deciding vote to pass -- as an indication of where a Harris administration stands on energy policy. The IRA includes incentives for biofuels including sustainable aviation fuel.

The Trump campaign said a new Trump administration would increase domestic energy production "across the board" that includes ending restrictions on oil, natural gas and coal.

"No president has ever fought harder for our farmers than I did," the Trump campaign said.

"I issued a rule declaring that E15 would be made available all year round. In addition, I dramatically increased the number of fueling stations where E15 could be sold across the country, by letting them use the existing pumps. I will cancel every Kamala-Biden policy that is brutalizing our farmers."

Trump's E15 rule was thrown out by federal courts. EPA has granted year-round E15 waivers to eight Midwest states but there still is no policy to expand E15 nationally.

The AFBF questionnaire did not ask the candidates specifically about the Renewable Fuel Standard or sustainable aviation fuel.

CLEAN WATER

Across the span of the past several presidential administrations farmers and ranchers have faced an ever-changing definition of waters of the U.S.

The candidates were asked, "As president, will you work to reign in the agencies' regulatory reach, provide clarity for landowners and faithfully enforce the decision that was handed down in Sackett v. EPA?"

The Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. EPA essentially changed the way the Clean Water Act can regulate wetlands, among other things, https://www.dtnpf.com/….

"Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz believe that every person in America has a right to clean water," the campaign responded.

"To ensure that no American has to suffer the dangerous effects of contaminated water, the Biden-Harris administration is working to replace all lead service lines in America -- protecting families from lead poisoning, improving wastewater and sanitation infrastructure and tightening standards for toxic air pollutants. Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz will fight for the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water."

The Trump campaign: "I will immediately stop all Biden/Harris policies that limit the ability of landowners to make a living and save farmers from ridiculous regulations that drive-up costs. This includes EPA rules and regulations that strangle American agriculture.

"While in office, I repealed President Obama's ridiculous waters of the United States rule, an outrageous federal power grab over your private land. I ended the federal intrusion into our family farms and our ranches. No longer should federal bureaucrats tell you how to run your business. The EPA shall never micromanage your land. I will refocus agencies back to their core missions."

TAX POLICY

Both campaigns were asked, "As president, what (tax) provisions would you support to help farmers and ranchers remain on the land and producing food, fuel and fiber?"

In particular, the AFBF questionnaire pointed to the soon expiring "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" as a concern for most ag families.

"The vast majority of farm and ranch operations are businesses that file their taxes as individuals and most make well under $400,000 annually," AFBF said in the survey.

"Many of the provisions of the soon expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allow farm and ranch families to invest into their family business, so the next generation has a chance if they choose to take over the farm."

The Harris campaign said that under a Harris administration "no American making less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes, and that includes most farmers and ranchers."

The campaign said a Harris administration would "fight for a tax code that is more fair for everyone." The campaign said Harris would "fight to make sure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes."

The Trump campaign said a Trump administration would work to "defeat inflation" while increasing "real farm incomes" and growing the farm economy.

"To protect the pro-farmer tax cuts I delivered in 2017, including the elimination of the estate tax, or death tax, as well as the giant tax cut I gave to family farms that operate as pass-through entities, which produce more than 90% of agricultural products in the United States, I will also make permanent the provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and pursue additional tax cuts."

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

One of the major focuses of the Biden administration has been to ensure that registrations of agriculture chemicals are in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

The AFBF asked Harris and Trump how they would "fix a broken Endangered Species Act" and about the role they would give landowners on protecting species.

The Harris campaign provided this answer: "Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz are committed to preserving biodiversity across our nation. She believes that conservation hinges on cooperative initiatives that consider all Americans -- including American farmers and ranch owners."

The Trump campaign said many threatened and endangered species have been delisted because of incentive-based conservation programs.

"A Trump administration will empower farmers and ranchers to be free of excessive regulations and be the most production on their land," the campaign said.

"I will be transparent and bring clarity to farmers, ranchers, water users and landowners in how the law is administrated."

The candidates were asked other questions on food system and farmer resiliency, state regulations, sustainability and climate, regulatory reform, biotechnology, rural life and health and federal land management.

You can read the entirety of the American Farm Bureau Foundation questionnaire and answers here: https://www.fb.org/….

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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Todd Neeley

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