The two major party candidates for Iowa’s northeast congressional seat differ sharply over how to write future U-S farm policy. Republican Congressman Jim Nussle of Manchester, seeking a sixth term, faces democrat challenger Donna Smith of Dubuque in the November election. Smith supports complete repeal of the provisions in the “Freedom to Farm” bill. She says the bill has caused record low prices.Nussle says adjustments should be made, but the concept behind the “Freedom to Farm” bill is sound. Nussle says it’s easy to indict the “Freedom to Farm” bill, but he says he can’t find one farmer that wants to go back to more federal control of the farm programs.Smith says federal programs are being mis-used by corporate farmers. She would restrict federal farm aid to “family farm” operations. The candidates differ on another issue too. Smith says the locks and dams on the Mississippi River should be repaired, but she opposes expansion of the river as a transportation system.Smith says shipping grain by barge is how “third world farmers” operate, and it’s time to process Iowa grain in Iowa.Nussle supports at least studying the pros and cons of expanding the lock and dam system. Nussle says planned maintenance of the existing locks and dams should continue.The candidates made their comments on Iowa Public T-V’s “Iowa Press.”
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