Rural Matters: Presidential Nominees Through Farm Focus

Last month we featured in Rural Matters an overview of the Vice Presidential nominees and their background on agricultural and rural issues. In this week’s Rural Matters, we are going to take a similar look at the backgrounds of each at the top of the ticket this fall, the nominees for President. If you’re interested in more policy details on either candidate, visit their respective campaign websites (Harris/Walz link, Trump/Vance link) to read more about their platforms.

Kamala Harris

Background: Harris has served as the Vice President of the United States since 2021, focusing on issues such as immigration reform, voting rights, and economic recovery. She was a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021, where she worked on criminal justice reform and healthcare. Harris also served as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, where she tackled issues like consumer protection and environmental justice.

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Ag Policy Contributions:

• Rural Partners Network: Launched to help rural and Tribal communities access federal funding and resources.
• Climate-Smart Solutions: Invested over $1.3 billion in renewable energy production and provided $700 million for biofuel producers.
• Equity in Rural Communities: Focused on ensuring historically underserved groups can access USDA programs and services.

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Key Ag/Rural Platforms:

• Trade: Harris advocates for strengthening international relationships and addressing unfair competition through diplomatic means and negotiations.
• Agricultural Labor: Harris supports immigration reforms to alleviate farm labor shortages. Her plan includes an earned pathway to citizenship for farmworkers and a strengthened H-2A visa program.
• Sustainability and Climate: Harris supports aggressive measures to reduce carbon emissions, including the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides significant funding for clean energy projects and climate smart agriculture.
• Energy and Biofuels: Harris supports the continuation of the Biden administration’s clean energy initiatives, including biofuels. She has emphasized the importance of renewable energy as a job creator and a means to combat climate change.
• Rural Development: Harris advocates for significant investments in rural infrastructure, including healthcare, education, and transportation.
• Broadband: Harris has played a key role in the Biden administration’s efforts to expand broadband access to underserved areas, stressing high-speed internet as a necessity, not a luxury.
• Farm Bill: Harris is expected to continue the Biden administration’s approach to the Farm Bill, focusing on sustainability, support for small farmers, and food security programs. She supports expanding crop insurance and addressing corporate consolidation in agriculture.
• Taxes: Harris has supported an estate tax exemption of $3.5 million, expanding the child and housing tax credit provisions, and maintaining key ag provisions like section 179 expensing.

Donald Trump

Background: Trump served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, implementing policies on tax reform, deregulation, and trade. Before his presidency, Trump was a prominent real estate developer and television personality. His political administration focused on economic growth, immigration control, and judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices.

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Ag Policy Contributions:

• Tax Reform: Implemented tax policy that cut most tax rates and effectively repealed the death tax.
• Trade Deals: Negotiated trade agreements like the USMCA and the Phase One Agreement with China, focused on boosting agricultural exports.
• Broadband Expansion: Funded projects to connect rural Americans to high-speed internet, with over $1.2 billion in grants and loans.

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Key Ag/Rural Platforms:

• Trade: Trump is known for his aggressive trade policies, including the use of tariffs and supplemental payments to domestic producers to offset severe market disruptions. He has proposed tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese imports to defend U.S. agriculture against unfair trade practices, as well as threatened 200% tariff against John Deere if they proceed with outsourcing some of their manufacturing to Mexico. He opposes state regulations that he believes undermine interstate commerce, such as California’s Proposition 12.
• Agricultural Labor: Trump advocates for a more restrictive stance on immigration, prioritizing American workers and reducing reliance on foreign labor. He proposes overhauling the agricultural labor system through stricter enforcement.
• Sustainability and Climate: Trump has rolled back numerous environmental regulations during his presidency and has expressed skepticism about climate change.
• Energy and Biofuels: Trump supports expanding American energy production toward the goal of energy independence. He supports increasing fossil fuel production and has been critical of some clean energy policies, but his administration approved regulations that provided E15 access year-round.  
• Rural Development: Trump focuses on reducing regulations and taxes to stimulate economic growth in rural areas.
• Broadband: Trump has criticized the Biden administration’s broadband expansion efforts, arguing that they are inefficient and overly bureaucratic.
• Farm Bill: Trump has proposed changes to the Farm Bill, including cuts to programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage. He has also called for SNAP and school meal programs reductions. Trump supports existing agricultural programs like crop insurance, reference prices, and dairy margin coverage, and has looked for only small changes.
• Taxes: Trump would likely continue the tax provisions approved during his administration under the “Tax Cut and Jobs Act,” which include a reduced corporate tax rate and $13 million estate tax exemption.

The November election is important, with critical and contested races up and down the ballot. It is important that you educate yourself on the candidates, make an informed choice, and then get out to vote in-person on November 5th or request an absentee ballot at least 15 days before the election.

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