Issue Position: Agriculture

Issue Position

Issue Position: Agriculture

Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and agriculture is the backbone of rural communities. That's why I believe there is little of greater importance to our state than the health of our farms, ranches and agricultural communities.

As Governor I will:

* Promote farm cooperatives of all kinds.

Farm cooperatives can be useful tools for everything from purchasing fuel and fertilizer at bulk prices to retaining local ownership of wind farm projects. I will put a 21st century twist on this age old practice, by starting a Web site to make it easier than ever for farmers to find each other and start a cooperative.

* Open new markets.

A Mathern administration will be a friend of farmers in finding new markets for their products. This means everything from more trade missions to foreign countries to the promotion of niche, high-margin farming areas, such as organic crops and livestock.

* Promote a strategic fuel reserve.

Over the last few years, North Dakota farmers have faced the daunting possibility of going into harvest season with not enough fuel available for purchase…at any price. I will solve this problem by creating a strategic fuel reserve that will let farmers sleep easy during talk of a shortage, and make sure many valuable acres don't rot in the field if there's an actual shortage.

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