Economist: Neither candidate addressing ag issues

John Maday, Managing Editor, Drovers CattleNetwork   |   Updated: October 17, 2012

Voters across Middle America who consider agricultural policy and rural issues high priorities have been largely invisible in this year’s presidential campaigns, says Dr. David Flynn, chairman of the economics department at the University of North Dakota.

We’re hearing far too little about issues affecting agriculture and rural economies, Flynn said during an interview withAgriTalk Radio’s Mike Adams on Tuesday. These issues are of critical importance to the entire country, he says, but are overlooked as both campaigns focus on regions and demographics where they believe the most votes are up for grabs.

The candidates, he says, have an opportunity to make ag issues relevant to all voters by, for example, discussing them in the context of energy policy. Both campaigns discuss the energy sector as a job creator, but do not mention the role of agriculture in energy policy.

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