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Iowa ag summit to feature presidential contenders
Planners say nine potential 2016 presidential contenders have committed to participate in the first-ever Iowa Agriculture Summit next month.
Agribusiness entrepreneur Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Iowa-based Summit Group, is organizing the event.
“One of the things that we’ve noticed the last couple of cycles in Iowa, with the caucuses, the presidential candidates really didn’t talk about ag issues,” Rastetter says, “and so we thought we would invite candidates from both political parties to talk about ag issues in a summit setting in which it’s a one-on-one discussion, question and answer. Not a debate, but talking about the issues critical to agriculture so we begin that policy discussion now at the beginning of the caucus season.”
Rastetter tells Brownfield he wants to have a “substantive conversation” about the issues facing agriculture.
“As the world goes from seven billion to nine billion and we double food production—we all know that’s going to happen—how do you actually do that and what do we need to think as we go about that,” he says. “(We’ll discuss) biotechnology; the Waters of the United States and regulation, how that affects farming; traceability and food safety, how they’re tied together; free trade, that’s pretty important to the American farmer; ethanol, renewables; as well as conservation.”
The event is scheduled for March 7 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Those who have committed to attend are Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, George Pataki and Donald Trump.
AUDIO: Bruce Rastetter
Link to Iowa Ag Summit web page
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Iowa ag. summit. No Sarah Palin? I reckon It didnt really happen. did anybody ever smile? did any one show up?We all know who we are waiting for.
Unfortunately just the old stand bys. No one I would vote for. We don’t need another Bush. Liked George II but don’t need another one. Would like to see/hear Bobby Jindal.