A government shutdown would not be good for farmers, freshman Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill., said on the latest episode of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
Sorensen, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, also shared his thoughts on what climate policy could look like in the upcoming farm bill.
“A shutdown that we’re looking at would immediately affect and stress farm families,” Sorensen said, “especially those that require… off-farm income through loans to keep their farms.”
Before being elected to Congress, Sorensen worked as a meteorologist for about 20 years, experience he said informs his stance on climate change.
"We know things are changing. If we continue to play politics with something that is science-based, it's not going to solve the problem," he said, committing to work across the aisle on solutions.
One potential avenue for change is development of biofuels for sustainable aviation fuel, he said. “Farmers are going to be the solution to the problem, and I think that makes good sense.”
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Also on the show this week is USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor. Taylor is currently leading a special USDA trade mission in Santiago, Chile.
The trade mission centers around fostering interaction between USDA and various businesses and industries. Taylor says that all the meetings so far have gone “exceedingly well.”
“We’re estimating by the end of the week over 350 business-to-business meetings, so that’s just exceptional to hear,” Taylor said.
The full conversations with Sorensen and Taylor can be viewed at Agri-Pulse.com.
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