ALBIA, IOWA (May 16, 2019) — Today, Patty Judge, Focus on Rural America Chair and former Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Agriculture for the state of Iowa, held a press call with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price and former candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Tim Gannon. In her remarks, Judge outlined the devastating policies coming out of the President Trump's Administration and the impact they are having on rural America, particularly Iowa's producers and value-added agriculture economy. "As we begin to put seed in the ground and plan for the market we thought we had, once again, President Trump piled on more tariffs. Last summer, Trump’s tariffs led to corn falling 44 cents per bushel. This year, Bloomberg reports that Trump’s trade tweets sent the grain market into a 42-year low. The lowest since 1977. This is a devastating loss for producers," said Focus on Rural America Chair Patty Judge. "In addition, we learned today, in a report from Reuters, that the Administration's attack on ethanol has been purposeful. The report shows the oil and gas giveaways we've been seeing recently are a direct result of the Environmental Protection Agency making a clear policy decision to provide 'small' refinery waivers to refineries of any size, including Exxon and Chevron, to help oil companies increase profits. "These misguided and unfair policies are doubling down on Iowans and we cannot afford to take another hit from President Trump. We need leaders — Senators [Joni] Ernst and [Charles] Grassley, as well as Presidential candidates — to stand up to Trump and his these damaging policies."
Focus on Rural America is a nonprofit organization aimed at boosting progressive causes and organizations by developing and promoting economic messages that resonate in rural America.
