Farmers in northwest Iowa sat down for a roundtable talk last night with oneof the most powerful men in Washington. U-S House Speaker Dennis Hastert metwith growers at a farm near Milford in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Hastertblames the commodities price crunch, in part, on the U-S losing ag deals toforeign competition.Hastert says so-called “Fast Track” authority for the President would helpthe U-S cement more international trade deals. The Illinois republicanblames democrats for Fast Track’s failures.Hastert told farmers they’re facing much competition on every front.One farmer told Hastert he can’t compete in the current field and he doesn’tthink the republican party understands that. Hastert countered that he DOESunderstand, as foreign competitors are chopping away at longtime U-Scommodities customers.It’s Hastert’s first visit to Iowa since he replaced Newt Gingrich asSpeaker.
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