Presidential candidates giving more detailed attention to farm issues in Iowa, union head says

With the Iowa caucuses six weeks away, Democratic presidential candidates are finally beginning to pay detailed attention to agricultural issues, the president of the Iowa Farmers Union told Dien Judge of the Iowa Independent, a good online site for grass-roots coverage of the campaigns in the Hawkeye State.

"Agricultural issues have largely gone under the radar throughout most of the caucus campaign season, despite the fact that Iowa is ground zero in the race for the presidency," Judge writes. "But some of the candidates are beginning to show an understanding of the importance of issues relating to agriculture. In an interview this week with Iowa Independent, Iowa Farmers Union president Chris Petersen said that some of the candidates are now 'seeing the light.'"

At IFU's Nov. 10 "Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit" in Des Moines, no Republican candidates attended, "but Democrats Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton all made their case to the organization's members," Judge writes. For the Independent's blog of the event, click here. IFU "oes not endorse candidates in caucus or primary elections, Petersen said, but individual members are encouraged to support or endorse candidates regardless of party," Judge writes. (Read more)