Agricultural News
President Obama Talking Rural Issues As He Rolls Through Iowa
Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:09:28 CDT
President Barack Obama felt the love in several small Iowa communities on Tuesday as his three day bus tour rambled through a corner of the Hawkeye state. The President started the day in a local cafe- chowing down on some eggs and toast- and asked for bacon- which he got- and on which he bragged.
He then made his way to the Rural Economic Forum held Tuesday afternoon at Community College in Peosta, Iowa, where President Obama called for speeding up the development of the next generation of biofuels. But, some no longer see biofuels as innovative. The President also stressed the importance of expanding renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal. He told a panel - I think it could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs all across the country.
Mr. Obama said the growth of those industries, biofuels, wind, solar and geothermal, could help farmers diversify their incomes. The volatility of the world markets amplifies the need for the ongoing development of renewable energy.
The President also pushed his position on the three FTAs held hostage by his demand that a union worker benefits program be reauthorized. President Obama told his audience - we should pass trade deals that will level the playing field for American companies. No folks benefit more than rural Americans when it comes to our trade. That's the reason that our agricultural sector is doing incredibly well, and that has spillover effects, ripple effects throughout the economy here.
Mr. Obama said - the only thing that is holding us back is our politics. "The only thing that's preventing us from passing the bills I just mentioned is the refusal of a faction in Congress to put country ahead of party. And that has to stop." The President called on everyone to send a message to Congress that it's time to put the politics aside and get something done. What was not said is that the three Agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea remain at the White House, as the President has refused to transmit them to Congress for an up or down vote until he gets guarantees that his worker retraining program will get more money.
The President, during the Ag Policy breakout session, also was critical of farm program payments going to commercial sized farm operations- wanting that support to be targeted only to small or beginning farmers.
After his stop at the Rural Economic Forum, the President engaged in a little economic development himself, stopping the bus for an afternoon treat. Here's the account from the pool report of media covering the Obama trip.
"POTUS made another unannounced stop, this time in Dewitt, Iowa, at Dewitt Dairy Treats.He chatted up a few folks next to the ice cream shop and then ordered ice cream for his staff. He offered the press, which declined. Nancy Ann DeParle had vanilla, while Jay Carney had strawberry, the flavor of the day.In total, POTUS ordered 2 chocolates, 2 vanillas, and 1 strawberry(all cones), and then was indecisive about what he would have - for a moment."What other flavors do you have?" POTUS asked. Mulling it over, he said, "I'll have a vanilla."
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to an overview of the Ag Policy Breakout at the Economic Forum that was held in Peosta.
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