Agriculture Policy
Kansas farmers feed the world and are entitled to make a reasonable profit on their products. Appropriate farm price supports are important in keeping a plentiful food supply for consumers but should be redirected, in part, to smaller producers to maintain a plentiful work force of farmers for the future.
SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE:
As your next U.S. Senator I promise to serve the State of Kansas by seeking membership on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. Today, only one member of Kansas’ congressional delegations serves on the House and Senate agriculture committees. Since this member is not seeking re-election next year as a House member, it is possible that the Kansas delegation will have no member serving on agricultural committees in Congress after the 2010 election. Kansas needs strong and active representation on these committees to ensure our voice is heard in the consequential debates to come on U.S. agricultural policy.
REGIONAL POLICIES:
One of the major challenges confronting policy makers in Washington D.C. and beyond is how to differentiate a rural community from an urban community. Increasingly, these lines are being blurred and it is becoming apparent that reliance upon antiquated definitions is harming these communities by preventing resources from reaching populations most in need of them.
For instance, is distance from a major metropolitan area the best way to distinguish a rural community? The good people of Atwood, Kan., in Rawlings County might agree with this definition, but the people of Hesston or Moundridge, might disagree because these communities are close to Wichita.
Or, what if policy makers defined a rural community by employment data, with a rural community having a higher proportion of its people employed by agriculture? Even this definition is subject to criticism. According to Kenneth M. Johnson, an expert on rural demographics, “Rural America is not just agriculture.”[1] In parts of traditionally rural America, “manufacturing employs a larger proportion of the rural labor force than the urban labor force.” Moreover, as baby boomers retire from the work force, more and more of these communities and their economies are becoming increasingly service orientated.
Properly defining rural communities is emerging as critical issue for lawmakers who must allocate resources to these areas. As your next U.S. Senator, I will fight to ensure that the government uses a flexible array of definitions, specially tailored to fit the unique goals of each federal program. I will also fight for resource allocations that encourage regional cooperation by programs that surpass traditional demarcations between cities, suburbs, and rural areas.[2]
BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
I support efforts to provide rural Kansas communities with access to broadband internet. Broadband internet is a high-speed type of internet connection that can move large amounts of data through fiber-optic cables, or other means. Expanding broadband access to rural communities would allow Kansas entrepreneurs to expand businesses by improving online marketing and sales. I also support efforts to provide broadband access to schools, libraries, and community colleges, giving these valuable community resources access to the latest research, instructional aids and to connect with communities around the world. Expanding broadband internet to rural communities can also improve delivery of medical services by allowing physicians in rural Kansas to instantaneously consult with experts around the world to ensure the most accurate diagnoses and best medical care is provided.
VERTICAL INTEGRATION AND MARKET CONCENTRATION ISSUES:
I support the Department of Justice’s efforts to determine whether Monsanto’s huge market share of genetically engineered seeds are in violation of federal anti-trust laws. Monsanto’s patented genes are inserted into nearly 95% of all soybeans and 80% of all corn grown in the United States.[3] The question here is the amount of power one company can have over agricultural seeds, which are the foundation of the world’s food supply. According to the Associated Press, “without stiff competition, Monsanto could raise its seed prices at will, which in turn could raise the cost of everything from animal feed to wheat bread and cookies.”[4]
Monsanto’s rise to power is also exposing the ways that vertical integration and market concentration are impacting America’s rural communities. Small suppliers and family owned farming operations are no longer able to compete against massive agribusiness. These practices must be investigated to ensure compliance with anti-trust laws.
[1] Clea Benson, “Rural Sophistication,” CQ Weekly, October 5, 2009.
[2] Clea Benson, "Rural Sophistication," CQ Weekly, October 5, 2009.
