Ag Policy Blog

Iowa Political Event Puts Spotlight on Ag Policy

Chris Clayton
By  Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor
Connect with Chris:

For a day at least, issues critical to Midwest agriculture will be a focal point in the early jockeying for the 2016 presidential race.

Iowa businessman Bruce Rastetter put together the Iowa Agriculture Summit for Saturday with a lineup of confirmed speakers oriented heavily around Republican presidential candidates. The ag summit is expected to draw 900 Iowans as well as national media to cover the candidates and event.

Rastetter is being dubbed as an Iowa "kingmaker" for creating the event, which also puts a spotlight on his own views as well. Rastetter will operate as a moderator and host by sitting down for a one-on-one conversation with each of the speakers and asking their take on particular topics. So far, 12 GOP presidential hopefuls have confirmed to speak, but no national Democrats. That somewhat makes sense considering Rastetter is one of the largest Republican campaign contributors in Iowa, if not the largest.

In a profile Tuesday of Rastetter and event, the Capitol Hill website Politico described the ag summit as reflecting "the a bold display of the political power Rastetter has amassed — and a reminder to candidates that his endorsement would be a big get ahead of the Iowa caucuses."

Rastetter is a member of the Iowa Board of Regents -- appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad. Rastetter also has major ethanol, hog and real-estate interests in Iowa.

Profiles in both Politico and the Des Moines Register note donations to the major universities and the Iowa State Fair where a building now has his name.

http://www.politico.com/…

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/…

One key point of discussion with GOP presidential candidates will be their stance on ethanol and renewable energy such as wind. Rastetter was a heavy investor in Iowa ethanol facilities. The event also is co-sponsored by America's Renewable Future, a group set up by influential Iowa political operatives to help protect pro-ethanol policies. The group is led by one of Branstad's sons. Yet, most of the GOP candidates confirmed to speak have criticized policies for ethanol and wind -- two sectors where Iowans have used federal policies to create major industries in the state.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, will speak at the event as well. On Tuesday, Grassley praised Rastetter for taking the initiative to push agricultural issues into the forefront. He too will be touting the importance of agricultural policy at the summit, Grassley said.

P[L1] D[0x0] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

"I am going to be doing the same thing Bruce Rastetter's trying to do by raising up in candidate's minds agriculture and the importance of agriculture and agricultural issues," Grassley said. "The reason an ag summit like this is so important -- I compliment Bruce Rastetter for setting it up -- is that ag issues really don't get the attention that they ought to get. Somebody like Rastetter, as a big mover and shaker, that can get the candidates there talking about ag issues and getting greater understanding of them."

Grassley said some of the candidates have asked him to brief them on some of the key issues affecting agriculture, though he declined to say which ones. "If I have to brief them, that means they need more understanding of ag issues. This is going to raise it so hopefully that (will have) high visibility through the caucuses and to the general election."

The senator said he talked to colleagues about the problems with corn and soybean prices now being below the cost of production, as well as the importance of being sympathetic to the concerns of farmers. "Farmers don't need to have a lot of answers, but they have got to know you are going to be sympathetic to their problems when they are getting income below the cost of production."

Grassley also deflected some criticism about Rastetter's role and the personal influence he could play in agricultural politics. Grassley said it takes significant money to put together such an event.

"We ought to compliment him for being willing to make that investment for all of agriculture, not just in his own operation."

Speakers confirmed for the event include:

Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas

Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas

Gov. George Pataki of New York

Former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida

Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania

Donald Trump

Gov. Scott Walker of Pennsylvania

Various officeholders from Iowa.

I will be live tweeting from the event on Saturday. You can follow me on Twitter @ChrisClaytonDTN.

Depending on the logistics, I hope to also update this blog multiple times on Saturday with comments from speakers.

P[] D[728x170] M[320x75] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[L2] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]

Comments

To comment, please Log In or Join our Community .

Raymond Simpkins
3/4/2015 | 5:42 PM CST
I have farmed for 31 years and hate when anyone uses the word sympathetic in any business.I didn't feel sorry for the automakers when the government bailed them out and government should not have to bail out producers that are not good at what they do.Greed has brought on most of the problems we face today.Paying to much for land,getting to big,and producing to much.As long as we farmers listen to so called experts and grow high yields with costly inputs and low returns thing will not improve.What would be better, growing 140 bu. corn at 6.00 per bu. with imputs of 260.00 per acre or 250 bu. at 3.00 and 400.00 of inputs? I know I can farm without government and think its time we all tired it.So Senator Grassey we don't need sympathy,we just need to be smarter at what we do and save for the lean years.We will be able to keep farming because we prepared for a down turn that was inevitable.
Bonnie Dukowitz
3/4/2015 | 8:26 AM CST
We have been using ethanol since before it was mandated, some 30 years ago. Disagreeing on policies does not mean one is anti. We are members of various ag groups, but would it not be great if after years and years, all things could survive on they're own merits? The 6 volt wind generator still sits atop the old barn, only as an ornament though.
melvin meister
3/3/2015 | 9:14 PM CST
I see no friends of ethanol in the whole group. Brandstad needs to hold their feet to the fire and not let weasal words stand. Go ethanol.
JOHN CANTWELL
3/3/2015 | 3:05 PM CST
Isn't Walker from Wisconsin ?