Agriculture still has clout with politicians

During a warm week in Florida, while the Midwest was enduring the worst blizzard in the past quarter century, Nancy Pelosi was the keynote speaker at the Farmers Union Convention in Orlando and U.S. Trade Ambassador Susan Schwab addressed the Commodity Classic in Tampa. It may indicate that women are taking over government or that agriculture is center stage in politics and trade. Both appearances show the importance of maintaining constituencies within agriculture, however, the two gatherings were far apart in their political agendas.

When farmers meet, politicians take notice. The motivation seems to be the desire to keep a power base solidly in place and not allow erosion of support that might show up as votes for opponents in a future election. It also may be that rural and farm people are polite and welcoming. A politician likes to be warmly received and given a friendly forum. Farmers like to have the undivided attention of the legislator or administration representative as they present their needs. In most of these encounters, both parties seem to part contented.

Farmers Union is one of the oldest farm organizations in the country. This was the 105th year of an organization that grew out of grassroots farmers organizing to address stability and farm income. The atmosphere of a Farmers Union meeting is like a family reunion. Many of the delegates are lifelong attendees and several are in their 70s and older. The group has skewed strongly toward the Democratic Party and a belief that government has to regulate agriculture to keep farmers on the land and food production local. It appears Farmers Union is on the upswing in membership and convention attendance, especially with the Democratic majority and the Pelosi visit. The banquet attendance was about 800 but the trade show was small.

Commodity Classic is now the largest gathering of corn, soybean and wheat growers in the country. Registration exceeded 4,000 with a huge trade show and three associations representing their commodities. The atmosphere is businesslike, with renewal of friendships each year, with an ear to policy debates and an eye on new equipment in the trade show. The delegates are often older, but many are 35- to 50-year-old farmers who own or rent large acreage and depend on it for their livelihood. The group tends to lean toward the Republican Party and favor a free market and expanded exports as the pathway to profitability.

In years past, Farmers Union endorsed government payments to small farmers while commodity groups favored payments to larger farming operations. Now both are strongly behind government support of biofuels, with government commodity payments remaining important but, in this period of high grain and oilseed prices, losing priority to other programs including conservation and rural development.

At the Farmers Union event, Representative Collin Peterson of Minnesota, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee served two roles: He introduced Speaker Pelosi and played guitar in a band called "Second Amendment" to the delight of the arthritic rockers who danced to the music. It just shows that rank has its privileges.

Ms. Pelosi's star power was almost overwhelming as she received several ovations before she spoke and many more that punctuated her remarks during a lightly veiled partisan speech that the delegates expected. Standing in front of the appreciative crowd with both houses of Congress holding a Democratic majority, she exhibited a polite, proper, proud and powerful presence. It's good to be the Queen.

Susan Schwab, U.S. Trade Ambassador, had the more difficult task of explaining why the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has moved so slowly. She also was guarded about what concessions might be offered to bring the developing nations and emerging powers into agreement on lower tariffs and market access for American farm products.

The major difference between the two women was the general promise of better times ahead by Ms. Pelosi and the careful explanation of the real world problems of trade by Ms. Schwab. The Democratic message seemed to be: "We'll take care of you," while the Republican admonition was: "There is a delicate balance to trade and commerce that you must trust us to maintain."

Both parties want to keep the faithful solidly behind them. Both know the hot buttons of their desired constituents. Still I saw a few people who had moved to the Farmers Union point of view this year, possibly looking to be part of a winning team, perhaps exhausted by the conservative and unbending mindset of the Bush Administration.

Government can't really control the fortunes of agriculture but politicians quickly take credit for good policy decisions and blame their opponents for failures. As these personal appearances show, we are entertained by them and we are served by them. In return, they get our votes to be re-elected. As former president John Kennedy said: "Mothers may still want their favorite sons to grow up to be President, but . . . they do not want them to become politicians in the process."

Editor's note: Ken Root is now celebrating his 34th year as an agricultural professional. His career has spanned from being a vocational agriculture teacher to environmental consulting to farm broadcasting. He was the original host of AgriTalk (1994-2001) and now is lead farm broadcaster for WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. Ken and Jennifer Bremer also publish the Midwest Ag Report electronic newsletter each Friday. A free e-mail subscription is available by going online to www.hpj.com/edemail/newsletter/MWAGRegistration.cfm. Ken can be reached by e-mail at kenroot@clearchannel.com or by mail at the Journal at P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801.

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3/12/07

1 Star WK

Date: 3/8/07

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