Agriculture welcomes Obama as new president

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The wait is finally over. The next President of the United States is Barack Obama. Moving forward time will tell how the decision plays out for agriculture. For now, most groups offered a cordial welcome to the Democrat who will take the oath of office Jan. 20.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman congratulated Sen. Obama and noted this "was a decisive and historic election." Stallman added, "Farmers and ranchers, like all Americans, have a list of issues that they expect the administration and Congress will address. The issues include the economy, energy, immigration, trade, implementation of the farm bill and many others. We know there are many points of views on these issues, but we also know that our elected leaders have one thing in common: each person elected to office ran for office to improve this country and will work on these issues to make America better and to improve our country for all Americans. We look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to create those opportunities that will improve agriculture and rural America."

The ethanol industry's leading advocacy group, the Renewable Fuels Association, offered one of the most enthusiastic welcomes to Obama. With Republican nominee John McCain's continued opposition to ethanol subsidies, the ethanol industry may experience the greatest sense of relief from the election outcome.

In a statement from RFA, the organization reiterated that, "Throughout this campaign, President-elect Obama has reiterated that American farmers and ethanol producers are a critical component of our national strategy to help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. In addition, President-elect Obama has steadfastly held that ethanol, biodiesel and other forms of renewable energy need to be the building blocks of a new, green economy to generate much-needed economic activity, jobs, and opportunities that harness the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that has made our country great.

"We look forward to working with an Obama Administration and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to ensure the full potential of America's home grown ethanol industry is realized. This means continuing consistent public policies that allow investments in technology and infrastructure to be made with confidence, expanding the markets for ethanol in a manner that is responsible and collaborative with other stakeholders, and fostering the kind of innovative expertise necessary to continuing moving this industry forward.

In the days prior to the election reports began to surface that Obama had criticized agriculture for it's role in the explosion of health care costs because it is contributing to type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease and obesity in comments he made in a Time magazine interview. How that may or may shake-out in future action remains unknown.