Meet the Candidates: John McCain and Barack Obama

WASHINGTON-(FarmPolicyFacts.org)-

John McCain:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was not present during the 2008 farm bill vote but voiced his opposition for it and urged a presidential veto.

According to an Associated Press article comparing the candidates’ farm policies, McCain:

• Supports trade expansion through negotiations "to lower trade barriers, decrease trade-distorting subsidies and stabilize an affordable food supply for all nations."

• Calls for "reasonable reforms to our crop insurance program and our system of countercyclical and direct aid payments."

• Would cap subsidies to farmers who have adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more, while providing small farmers with "a reasonable safety net."

• Pledges to press Agriculture Department officials to research drought-resistant and higher-yield crops.

• Supports indexing the food stamp program "to reflect the current cost of living."

• Would provide "marketing tools" for the fruit and vegetable industries.

Useful Links:

McCain’s farm policy platform.

McCain speaks to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

McCain’s voting record on agriculture.

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Barack Obama:

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was not present during the 2008 farm bill vote but distributed a press release shortly after the vote declaring his support of the bill.

"This bill is far from perfect. I believe in tighter payment limits and a ban on packer ownership of livestock,” he said in that statement. “As president, I will continue to fight for the interests of America's family farmers and ranchers and ensure that assistance is geared towards those producers who truly need them, instead of large agribusinesses. But with so much at stake, we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good."

According to an Associated Press article comparing the candidates’ farm policies, Obama:

• Calls for spending $150 billion over 10 years for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind as well as advanced biofuels.

• Backs a renewable fuels standard that encourages use of ethanol and other advanced biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol produced from switchgrass and wood chips. Wants a goal of producing 2 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2013.

• Voted for a measure giving tax breaks to wind energy developments, credited for 45 percent growth in the industry last year. Has set a goal of 25 percent of the nation's electrical production coming from renewable sources by 2025.

• Would require petroleum makers to reduce the carbon content of fuel by 1 percent a year beginning in 2010 through the use of alternative fuels.

Useful Links:

Recent Obama press release on the farm bill.

Obama’s plan for rural America.

Obama speaks to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Obama’s voting record on agriculture.

Note: Farm Policy Facts is not endorsing and will not endorse any candidate for office. This article is for informational purposes only.