Farm and Food File

November winds are blowing big change

One of the perennial certainties of any the necessary staff to pursue them. In fact, when Big Ag groups realized Peterson was election season is how pundits chew over the politics of losing campaigns rather than discuss the policy implications of winning campaigns. The biggest reason is the cleanliness of The race to chair the Ag Committee is already underway for House Dems. The three frontrunners (Georgian David Scott, Californian Jim Costa, and Ohioan Marcia Fudge) each represent a direction sinking in his reelection race, ag campaign money (almost always reserved for Republicans) poured in to help Dem Peterson fight off his Republican challenger. It was a poor investment. Peterson got smoked. who’s up and who’s down; as opposed to a farm and food policy might go if selected. Which should raise some uncomfortable questions messy dive into the greasy nuance of Scott and Fudge are stronger advocates in farm and ranch circles. Specifically, just how what victory means to legislative sausage making. FARM & FOOD FILE for supplemental nutrition programs than traditional farm programs; Costa is politically powerful is Big Ag today if it can’t pull a 30-year, rural incumbent congressman over the That is especially so for U.S. farm policy after the muddled results of the recent general election. By Alan Guebert OPINION the group’s Big Ag, status-quo favorite. Right now, Scott leads the race. He is the committee’s most senior Dem, has finish line in one of their costliest, organized, most important campaign efforts ever? The best explanation is the most likely one: Rural For example, Democrats hold a weak majority in the House despite the stern whipping they took Nov. 3. One of the most prominent Dem losers was long-time Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson. The 15-term incumbent was committee support, and received Peterson’s blessing on Nov. 10. Fudge, an attorney by training and former small city mayor by choice, is a long shot — but is whispered to be a candidate for Biden’s secretary of agriculture. America isn’t politically red because of farmers and ranchers; it’s red despite farmers and ranchers. They don’t carry the vote; they tag along. If accurate, then Big Ag badly needs to find a more urban champion — like David Scott or Marcia thrashed by 13 points in his rural, western That leaves Costa, a self-described “third genera- Fudge — because that old rural-urban farm bill Minnesota district by Michelle Fischbach, the state’s tion farmer.” While he is a bona fide farm boy, Costa coalition, like the rest of the country, just moved to former lieutenant governor. has spent most of his 40-year career in public office the city. Similarly, the Repubs’ grip on the Senate is a slim two votes. Its Ag Committee also needs a new boss since its current chairman, Pat Roberts of Kansas, retires in early January. The Senate dynamic could change Jan. 5 when two races, both in Georgia, conclude with run-off — first in the California legislature, then in Congress. Interestingly, none of the three have deep ties to today’s long-running federal farm programs like crop insurance, ethanol or sugar — all key constituencies of the soon-to-depart Peterson. And, just as likely, it’s not coming back. The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the United States and Canada. Past columns, events and contact information are posted at www.farmandfoodfile.com. v elections. A win by one or both incumbents would add to the skinny Repub majority. Two Dem wins, however, hands the Senate to their party who then FSA Committee elections underway would control the House, Senate, and White House. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has mailed bal- is up for election each year. Newly elected committee

Yes, the White House; because voting results from lots for the Farm Service Agency county committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2021.. all 50 state election officials, both Republican and Democratic, point to a White House victory by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden. elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by Dec. 7. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Also, producers who supervise and con-

As such, and with or without the help of the County committee members help FSA make impor- duct the farming operations of an entire farm, but Trump Administration, Congress and the Biden tant decisions on its commodity support programs, are not of legal voting age, may be eligible to vote. transition team now face a two-month sprint in the middle of a trillion-dollar, lame duck session (which includes passing a 2021 federal budget by Dec. 11) conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who This article was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. v to outline their policy objectives and put into place serve three-year terms of office, and at least one seat Transition to electric cars carries consequences

By DICK HAGEN The Land Staff Writer Emeritus OPINION A decline up to 90 percent of ethanolenriched fuels which equates to 1.1 bil-

Yes, we all champion clean air, but at lion gallons. what price? A 61 percent decline in biodiesel to 0.8 billion gallons.

A study was recently released by the Agricultural Corn consumption could decrease by up to 2 bilRetailers Association. The ARA is a member of the lion bushels. Transportation Fairness Alliance. Economic models for the study were provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s annual outlook. Soybean utilization could decrease by up to 470 million bushels. This study reveals how a ban on internal combustion engine vehicles could devastate the agriculture Corn prices could fall up to 50 percent to $1.74 per bushel. community. If proposals to ban internal combustion Soybean prices could fall up to 44 percent to $4.92 engines by 2035 were to happen, consider these con- per bushel. sequences: Overall, U.S. net farm income would decrease by up to $27 billion.

Any ban results in dramatic decreases in ethanol, biodiesel, corn and soybean prices; plus demand for fertilizer and other agricultural products.

This could trigger estimated acreage reduction of 5 to 7 million acres of corn with a related impact on fertilizer is significant. In that scenario, nitrogen demand would be reduced 800,000 to 1 million tons of urea and Urea Ammonium Nitrate. This represents about 15 percent of the urea market and 7 percent of the UAN market in the U.S.

Further, the study indicates economic losses throughout the biofuels value chain ranging from $105 billion to $185 billion. Cumulative federal, state and local tax revenue losses could be from $39 billion to $69 billion. v

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1 SOA

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