Fallon Talks Agriculture Policy

Ed Fallon readily admits he has a lot to learn about federal farm policies. But the Democratic primary challenger in Iowa's 3rd District congressional race says he's a "fast learner" who would strive to reduce corporate power in agriculture.

The challenger is hoping to unseat Rep. Leonard Boswell, a former farmer who has risen to a leadership position on the House Agriculture Committee. Boswell serves as the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, playing a key role as Congress has undertaken the arduous process of writing a new farm bill.

Fallon, a former state legislator who represented an urban district in Des Moines, sat down with Iowa Independent Wednesday in Albia and discussed his views on agriculture and rural policy.

"Rural issues have always been important to me," said Fallon. "In fact I was on the agriculture committee for about six years in the Iowa House. Before I got involved in politics I did some farming, but I messed up my back bad enough that wasn't going to happen anymore. But to me, we need to create local markets for food products where we can help broaden the base of agriculture. I mean, we're always going to be a leader. Iowa's always going to be a leader in corn, soybean, hog and cattle production. But why can't we also regain some of our status with fruits and vegetables and dairy? There are so many other areas. We can do anything here when it comes to agriculture; we can do it all."

While Fallon didn't comment on Boswell's agriculture work at the federal level, he did offer praise for Iowa's two senators -- Democrat Tom Harkin and Republican Chuck Grassley. "I've followed Sen. Harkin's lead on farm bill issues over the years, and I admire the emphasis he's tried to place on conservation," said Fallon. "And I admire Sen. Grassley's proposal to limit or put a cap on farm subsidies."

Iowa Independent asked Fallon for specifics regarding his views on the traditional farm "safety net" -- the system of federal subsidies for the major grain crops like corn, soybeans, wheat and rice. "This is something I want to learn more about," said Fallon. "My focus in agriculture has been on Iowa issues, as they related to the Legislature's role, but I've studied various farm bills over the years. I'm interested in that, but I have a lot more to learn. I will say that in preliminary observation, there is obviously some role for farm subsidies to play."

He said he is inclined to seek reform in farm policy. "I think Sen. Grassley and others are right to be taking a hard look at what's the appropriate role (of subsidies)." He said he would support Grassley's proposed "hard cap" of $250,000 in annual farm program payments per individual. "We can't just take the rug out completely, but I also think the shift that Sen. Harkin has talked about, doing more to base subsidies on conservation, makes sense. Again, this is an area where I have a lot to learn, but I am a fast learner and I've got a strong interest in the issue. I'm not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but I do know there's enough people on both sides of the aisle talking about reform that it's clear to me that we do need to have a serious discussion about what the appropriate role of subsidies is."

Fallon didn't offer any specific criticism of Boswell's performance in Congress on agricultural issues, but he did emphasize a disagreement he had with Boswell when they were both serving in the Iowa Legislature. "One issue that Leonard Boswell and I disagreed on was back in 1995, the hog confinement bill that was passed -- House File 519," said Fallon. "There was a majority of us in the House, Democrats, who were fighting to stop that bill or at least improve it. And Congressman Boswell, then as state Senate president, was pushing for it. He was instrumental, in fact, in getting it passed."

"I know in rural Iowa there is still division on that issue," said Fallon. "But I think most people agree that they ought to have more control over what happens in their area." He said local people should have more say in whether a large hog production facility is located in their neighborhood. "The most serious problem is the extent to which hog production has been controlled by large corporations."

One issue important to farmers involves their ability to sell products in the global marketplace. Boswell has generally been in favor of trade agreements with foreign nations, but Fallon disagrees with that view. "This is another area where I disagree with the congressman. I know that he voted against CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), and I appreciate that. But I don't see why he supported the trade agreements with Peru, Chile, Singapore, and the fast-track authority with China." He said those trade agreements "seem to be in the same mold" as the North American Free Trade Agreement and CAFTA. "We call it free trade, but what I'm interested in is a discussion about fair trade. Fair trade can only happen when we have stated commitments to decent wages in those countries, where we have commitments to environmental protection and worker safety, and where we craft agreements so that we're not going to see the devastation of the manufacturing base in America. I mean, we've lost so many jobs because of NAFTA and CAFTA."

Fallon said he would support getting the United States entirely out of NAFTA and CAFTA. "Yeah, I would," said Fallon. "But that may not be my option. I mean, the votes that I'll be able to cast may not be on withdrawing from those treaties. It may be on refining them. But that's something I certainly want to push. I would support repealing them. But I think more likely we're going to get votes on whether or not to include provisions that are stronger in terms of protecting our jobs, and helping to protect working conditions so that we can improve working conditions abroad."

Fallon agrees with Boswell on the subject of competition in the livestock market. He said he would support a ban on meatpacker ownership of livestock, something Boswell has pushed for in the new farm bill. "I support that entirely," Fallon said. "Again, I need to learn more about that, but from what I know of it that makes a lot of sense. Our free-market system works really well, providing we have checks and balances that prevent the formation of monopolies, especially a monopoly in something as important as food."