Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave a rousing speech to Democratic supporters in Philadelphia Tuesday night after being announced as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the Nov. 5 election against Donald Trump and his VP nominee, JD Vance.
Walz hearkened back to his childhood in Nebraska, where he worked on the family farm in the summer. “My mom and dad taught us to show generosity towards your neighbors and work for a common good,” the Minnesota governor said.
One of Walz’s biggest applause lines came when he said of former President Trump, “He froze in the face of the COVID crisis. He drove our economy into the ground. And make no mistake, violent crime was up under Donald Trump.” Walz paused before he delivered the punch line. “That's not even counting the crimes he committed.”
Trump’s policies would benefit the “super-rich” and “damn sure take us backwards,” Walz said. He added, “We’re not going back.”
For a look at Walz’s record, read our weekly Agri-Pulse newsletter. We also report this week on our analysis of more than 80 projects that are part of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative. The projects are largely paying farmers according to the practices they implement rather than for proven or expected emission reductions.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is offering a bleak assessment for passing a new farm bill anytime soon. He told reporters Tuesday that a farm bill can’t get through Congress until Democrats are willing to cut nutrition spending to bolster the commodity title.
“The political environment is that Democrats aren't willing to give up any money on the 85% of the farm bill that is food stamps and increase reference prices. And until you get that worked out, we're not going to have a five-year farm bill.”
Keep in mind: The Congressional Budget Office’s official cost estimate for the House Ag Committee’s farm bill says it would increase the deficit by $33 billion even with nearly $30 billion in savings in the nutrition title. House GOP leaders might be able to override the CBO score but Grassley notes Republicans don’t have the 60 votes necessary to do that in the Senate.
Iraq buying U.S. rice again
USA Rice says Iraq is finally accepting shipments of American rice. The group says ADM Rice has a vessel that will head to Iraq in the fall.
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“This news couldn’t have come at a better time, as harvest gets into full-swing in the mid-South, a sale of U.S. rice to Iraq is welcomed all around,” said Keith Glover, Arkansas rice miller and freshly minted chair of USA Rice. “We want to thank all those that assisted in restoring this market for us, including many in Congress who took an interest in finding a solution.”
Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., met with Iraq’s ambassador to the U.S. last week and sent a letter to the Treasury Department earlier in the year “encouraging a quick resolution of financing issues that prevented regular sales from occurring,” USA Rice says.
Lawmakers raise concerns about duties on 2,4-D from India, China
Eighteen members of Congress are urging Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo “to carefully review the facts” before deciding whether to impose preliminary duties on 2,4-D imports from China and India.
The letter was led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Reps. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.
“Agricultural producers already face record high input costs while competing in a volatile market, and prices for all crops are forecasted to decline over the next several years,” the lawmakers say. “Without careful consideration of the facts during these preliminary investigations, new tariffs will result in difficulties for producers who rely on this critical input. This will only exacerbate their economic challenges.”
The International Trade Commission agreed in May to move ahead on a petition by Corteva Agriscience to place anti-dumping and countervailing duties on the imports. The Commerce Department is slated to release preliminary duties by Sept. 10, but that deadline could be extended.
Walz will give voice to rural America, congressman says
The choice of Tim Walz received plaudits from Democrats who say the Minnesota governor brings the perspective of farm-state Americans to the ticket.
“Rural America will have a voice in the White House,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., a colleague and friend of Walz’s before the Minnesotan ran for governor in 2018.
“If these guys prevail, and I believe they will, Tim Walz will be a strong advocate for our farming community,” McGovern said. “Agriculture will have a seat at the table, and he will fight ferociously to end hunger in this country, to end food insecurity and to make sure everyone has access to good, nutritious food.”
Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing noted Walz represented Minnesota’s farm-rich 1st District for 12 years, “and so he understands agriculture.”
Walz served on the House Ag Committee in Congress, contributing to three farm bills. McGovern said he pushed hard in the 2018 farm bill for programs benefiting young, beginning and veteran farmers.
Republicans continued their line of attack on Harris, and now Walz, as being far too liberal for the U.S. President Donald Trump said in a fundraising message that Walz would “unleash HELL ON EARTH and open our borders to the worst criminals imaginable.”
Final word: “Not in Minnesota. Turkey’s special.” – Gov. Tim Walz at last year’s Minnesota State Fair after his daughter, Hope, said she wouldn’t eat a corndog or turkey because she’s vegetarian. “Turkey’s meat,” she told her Dad.
