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In spite of an abnormal 2020, Candidates are fielding questions from voters and media, and very few of those questions are about food and agriculture. Farm Progress editors posed the same 10 questions to the campaign teams for the Republican nominee, President Donald Trump, and the Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden. We have condensed the nominees’ exclusive responses here, but their answers are also available verbatim.
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<p><strong>Biden</strong>: The Biden-Harris strategy for rural economic development will be to partner with rural communities, invest in their unique assets and make sure the wealth created in rural America stays in rural America.</p>
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: Like our country’s farmers and ranchers, President Trump has been clear about the agenda he would pursue, and he has kept his word: Promises made, promises kept.</p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: A major focus of the Trump administration has been to renegotiate trade deals that were weak and provided inadequate market access and import protection to U.S. farmers and ranchers.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: Our family farmers and ranchers were already fighting an uphill battle because of President Trump’s irresponsible trade policies and consistent siding with oil lobbyists over American growers.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: Our ag and food value chain is the envy of the world but faced significant challenges during the COVID outbreak as retail and food service delivery mechanisms were upended almost overnight through the rapid closures our country faced in March.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: One of the greatest risks for American agriculture is the impact of extreme weather. We understand the important role crop insurance plays and will make sure the safety net is there.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: We know our farmers want markets, they want to grow and produce things to sell here in America and to the world, we also know that they want fair and reciprocal trade deals. Other countries already know President Trump means what he says on trade, and we will continue to see more favorable agreements reached in a second term.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: While President Trump is pursuing a damaging and erratic trade war without any real strategy, we will stand up to China by working with our allies to negotiate from the strongest possible position.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: When implementing the Renewable Fuel Standard, the president decided in favor of farmers and said from now on 15 billion gallons of ethanol must mean 15 billion gallons and shouldn't be undermined by small-refinery waivers. </p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: The Renewable Fuel Standard marks our bond with farmers and our commitment to a thriving rural economy. President Trump doesn't respect that connection, and he's thrown it away to the detriment of generations of producers across the Midwest and around the country — many of whom put their trust in him four years ago.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answers here.</a></p>
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<p><strong>Trump</strong>: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for farm bill programs that will help farmers prepare for the threats of tomorrow while maximizing productivity today. Future farm bills must focus on building on the key pillars of our domestic farm policy, including a strong crop insurance system, voluntary conservation programs and increased agricultural research.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: The Trump administration was slow to help pivot food supplies from food service to food banks, and was ignoring a growing crisis in the meatpacking industry. The Biden-Harris administration will not make those mistakes.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: Bridging the internet divide in rural America will help to provide better education, improve telemedicine, as well as give farmers and ranchers more tools to produce our nation’s food and fiber more profitably.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: Our administration is not going to eliminate the Affordable Care Act; we’re going to build on it. To help hospitals keep their doors open, we support the elimination of payment cuts and additional payments for rural hospitals as detailed in the bipartisan <a href="https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr2957/BILLS-115hr2957ih.pdf" target="_blank">Save Rural Hospitals Act</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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<p><strong>Trump</strong>: The president is committed to taking care of farmers and has authorized a total of $28 billion in aid for farmers who have been subjected to unfair trade practices. President Trump’s focus is on fixing broken trade deals and ensuring all Americans enjoy free and fair trade with countries around the world.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: A Biden-Harris administration will support America’s farmers and ranchers by ending the current administration’s chaotic trade agenda and repairing the damage to the Renewable Fuel Standard.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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
<p><strong>Trump</strong>: Any new sustainability or climate requirements must be science-based and not result in tighter profit margins for farmers.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: A key pillar of my plan for rural America is partnering with farmers and ranchers so that better agriculture practices and deployment of digesters generate new sources of revenues.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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<p><strong>Trump</strong>: The Trump-Pence administration will only support commonsense regulations, where any cost is far outweighed by the benefits, and where that cost-benefit analysis considers all factors including economic and impact on rural communities.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: Under our administration, regulatory policy will again embrace the lessons and experience of experts and scientists, employing cutting-edge analysis and knowledge to guide decisions. We will listen to those that might be impacted by a regulation before it is crafted.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>
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<p><strong>Trump</strong>: The Trump administration believes farmers and ranchers have a much better ability to manage and care for their land than a bureaucrat in Washington.</p>
<p><strong>Biden</strong>: The charge facing the president who follows President Trump is as big as it is essential: restoring faith in American government. The next president must demonstrate with actions — not empty words — that public servants serve all Americans, not themselves or narrow special interests.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/trump-and-biden-what-solutions-... the full, verbatim answer here.</a></p>