American farmers would benefit if Barack Obama is elected president, two area state legislators said Friday.
Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, voted for the new U.S. farm bill earlier this year and understands what area farmers need, Chris Griffin and Keith Langseth said at a news conference at the farm of Fargo producer Jacob Gust.
Griffin is a state representative from Larimore, N.D. Langseth is a state senator from Glyndon, Minn. Both are Democrats.
Obama is "a very smart guy and a fast learner," Langseth said.
Obama has learned about agriculture while serving in the Illinois Legislature and from representing the state, Griffin said.
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Langseth and Griffin criticized John McCain, presumptive Republican nominee for president, for opposing the U.S. farm bill.
Congress earlier this year approved the farm bill, a series of agricultural programs, despite the opposition of President Bush.
"It's important to have a president who's willing to support the farm bill," Griffin said.
McCain has continued to criticize the farm bill, even while campaigning in states where the legislation is popular, The Associated Press said.
In one speech, McCain described the measure as "a $300 billion, bloated, pork-barrel-laden bill," the AP said.
Gust said the Red River Valley's ag economy has gone through many changes, including the transition from raising wheat and barley to growing corn and soybeans.
Unless U.S. farmers have an ally such as Obama in the White House, American agriculture won't continue to grow as it should, Gust said.
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
