Farm Bill and drought aid could swing key voters in US presidential election

摘要

In any US presidential election, farmers are considered to be one of the crucial banks of voters that aspiring politicians have to court carefully. In recent contests, the ethanol mandate has been a particular bellwether policy for Midwest maize farmers that most presidential hopefuls have both traditionally pledged to support, whether Democrat or Republican. This year, however, the context is even more crucial, given that there is increased pressure for a Farm Bill to be passed before the November elections, following the severe drought which has impacted large parts of the US maize and soybean crop.