Again, the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union have taken opposite views on major policy issues being debated in Congress. Much like the differing views on climate change, AFBF and NFU have gone the opposite direction on the health-care bill that could be voted on as early as Friday in the House.

National Farmers Union on Friday urged members of the House of Representatives to vote in support of health care legislation. In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, NFU President Roger Johnson said the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) includes provisions that would control health care costs for the self-employed farmers, ranchers and small businesses that dominate rural economies.

"The bill's public health insurance option will not only dramatically increase the availability of health care to producers, but provide competition in underpopulated areas that have been historically dominated by a very few number of private insurers," Johnson said.

Earlier in the week, AFBF issued a statement opposing the legislation.

NFU stated in its news release that the group has long called for a comprehensive, meaningful health care reform bill that provides universal, affordable and accessible coverage for all Americans, regardless of health status, employment or financial situation.

"The time for health care reform is long overdue. This bill provides essential solutions to problems that have continuously hindered the well-being of our rural communities," Johnson said.

Rural Americans face unique challenges to receiving quality health care. Distance from medical facilities, cost-prohibitive private insurance premiums and co-pays, lack of an adequate medical workforce and access to generic drugs, and an aging rural population are just some of the obstacles.

I can be found on Twitter at chrisclaytonDTN.