Several of America's founding fathers had agrarian ties – they knew what it meant to plant, harvest and produce a product to meet both the needs for physical sustenance and the framework of the greatest democracy in the world. Fast forward to the 21st century, the framers would be impressed to see that their democratic vision has prevailed and agrarian roots have expanded, establishing the U.S. as a super-power in food, fiber and fuel production.
This feat has not come easily. Many rural communities across America are still recovering from the effects of the recent recession. With well-funded special interests in Washington, D.C., stacked against them, the going is even tougher than it should be.
The next president will play a role in drafting and implementing a Farm Bill, along with deciding critical new policies on everything from biotech to animal health, trade and commodity prices. Policy areas not typically thought of as “rural,” sometimes play an even bigger role. One such issue, health care continues to affect the lives of every single man, woman and child in our communities.
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