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Best of NAMA 2024












VP HARRIS RELEASES RURAL POLICY PROPOSALS
by Joshua Baethge, Policy editor, Farm Progress

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is announcing a series of policy proposals intended to help rural Americans. Running mate Tim Walz will formally unveil the details during a campaign event at a farm in Lawrence County, Pa.

Harris campaign officials say her platform focuses largely on combatting farm consolidation and other barriers hindering smaller farmers. The vice president plans to improve credit access for beginning farmers and make it easier for them to receive USDA farm ownership and operating loans. She also intends to expand training and technical assistance programs, including those targeting military veterans and young farmers.

If elected, Harris says she would expand farmland protection programs, including working farm easements that prevent farmland from being lost to non-agricultural buyers. She also vows to "double down" on voluntary partnerships with farmers to generate new income streams through climates smart agriculture strategies and other initiatives.

Harris intends to push for passage of the Agricultural Right to Repair Act. That legislation would require manufacturers of electronics-enabled agricultural equipment to share documents, parts, software and tools with owners and independent repair shops.

The vice president says she will direct a USDA study on crop insurance programs to increase protection against more threats and possibly cover more crops. She plans to work with Congress to pass legislation increasing antitrust enforcement in agriculture. As part of this effort to boost competition, Harris plans to announce further incentives to increase production among new suppliers, small farms, growers and processors.

Harris is also using the announcement to take a swipe at Donald Trump's tariffs during his term in office. According to her, the resulting trade war was "devastating" to farmers and rural communities. She plans to provide more technical assistance that she says will help small and mid-sized operations gain more opportunities to sell their products.

Shan Sebastian of RuralOrganzing says the Harris plan demonstrates both a deep understanding of and a solid commitment to rural Americans. He "wholeheartedly" welcomes the Harris/Walz announcement.

"Harris and Walz are showing rural voters that their concerns have been heard," Sebastian says. "They are also showing how life can improve when elected officials deal with real issues instead of just trying to divide us. This really is the plan we've been waiting for and we look forward to making it a reality."

To read the entire report click here.


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