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Rep. Angie Craig Champions Minnesota Farmers at Farmfest

August 8, 2019

Rep. Craig meets with local producers, speaks at listening session on farm economy

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig attended Farmfest in Morgan, Minnesota to continue her fight to preserve Minnesota's family farms, meet with local producers, and share her work on the House Agriculture Committee.

As a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Craig has made supporting Minnesota farmers a top priority. On the heels of new trade announcements between the United States and China, Rep. Craig underscored the importance of a sound trade strategy that opens markets for farmers and gives them the opportunity to pass their farms along to the next generation. Rep. Craig has proven her commitment to greater Minnesota by bringing rural voices to Washington.

To that end, Rep. Craig participated in a listening session on the state of the farm economy with Secretary Sonny Perdue, Chairman Collin Peterson, and members of the Minnesota Delegation to discuss the bipartisan work that is being done to support Minnesota farmers. She also visited the booths of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Soybean Growers, Minnesota Corn Growers, Minnesota Pork Producers, Minnesota Cattlemen's Association, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, among many more. At these booths, Rep. Craig heard about how she can be a strong partner in Congress for smart trade policies and expanded markets for producers.

"I spent 25 years working in business where much of our sales were exports and China was one of our fastest growing markets. I'm incredibly concerned that we've asked the nation's farmers to take a little bit of pain for a long-term gain on this trade war," Rep. Craig said at the listening session. "I see a lot of pain from Second Congressional District of Minnesota and I don't see a strategy in sight. I'm rooting for the administration to be successful, but I'm not sure how much longer our farmers can wait. The current trade assistance does not make them whole."

In her first seven months in Congress, Rep. Craig has made it a priority to push for policies that support our ag economy and bring more rural voices to the table. She has:

  • Hosted a listening session in White Rock on the state of the farm economy, hosted Minnesota farmers and ranchers at the State of the Union and at a Congressional hearing, and visited farms in Cannon Falls and Farmington.
  • Introduced the bipartisan FEEDD Act, which would give farmers and ranchers additional emergency harvest flexibility on prevent plant ground and help alleviate feed concerns. As a result of this bill, the Administration took steps to move the Nov. 1st harvest date for cover crops on prevent plant ground - giving farmers and ranchers much needed flexibility during this wet planting season.
  • Secured additional funding for rural broadband and the Rural Energy For America Program to improve the quality of life in Greater Minnesota.
  • Advocated for expanded markets for biofuels as a cosponsor of the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2019 and by presenting testimony to House Ways and Means.
  • Pushed the Administration to implement smart, deliberate trade policies that open up markets that farmers have worked decades to build and provide sustainable, long term economic growth.
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Rep. Craig cooking Pancakes

 

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Rep. Craig speaking at Farm Fest

 

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Rep. Craig serving ice cream

 

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Rep. Craig at Farm fest