Gubernatorial hopefuls pledge agriculture aid

By Jimmy LaRoue

Published: December 3, 2008

HOT SPRINGS — Two of the three Democrats running for governor made their case Wednesday that they would be best suited to support Virginia’s agricultural interests.

Sen. Creigh Deeds, who grew up on a Bath County farm, told a breakfast gathering at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation convention at The Homestead that he has an intimate understanding of agricultural issues, noting that he’s the only one to have been born in Virginia and born on a farm.

“Now is the time to stand with Virginia’s farmers,” Deeds said.

Del. Brian Moran, of Alexandria, told the group later in the morning that he has championed the federation’s issues in the House of Delegates, even going against his own party to support ending the estate tax. America, Moran said, “was born on a Virginia farm.”

He said current challenges are related to one another.

“Strong agriculture policy can lead to healthier kids and less money spent on health care,” Moran said. “Better land use planning can mean protecting generations of farmers. And our environmental policies can have a huge impact on our economic development plans.”

Deeds pointed to his sponsorship of the Agricultural Stewardship Act and said he was “proud to write the most progressive, incentive-based land conservation law in the nation, creating tax incentives, tax credits to encourage people to put their land into conservation easements.”

Both candidates talked up the need for expanded energy opportunities - including biofuels - while pushing for increasing broadband opportunities in rural areas and improving transportation infrastructure. They both touted their ties to U.S. Sen.-elect Mark Warner and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

Deeds called for an “energy research triangle” similar to the Research Triangle in North Carolina established in 1960 by then-North Carolina Gov. Luther Hodges. He also wants to retool the state’s community college system.

“We’ve got to compete for the smart jobs,” Deeds said.

Moran said more people in Virginia should understand agriculture’s economic impact, and its economic reach should be expanded globally. He touted a trade mission to India with Kaine that he said resulted in $100 million in investments in the state.

At the same time, Moran said more needs to be done to encourage Virginians to buy locally.

“We’ve spent so much time figuring out how to get Virginia produce to market on the other side of the country that sometimes we forget that it’s easier to sell it on the other side of the county,” Moran said.

He also wants to invest in agricultural education through the Virginia Cooperative Extension and expand university research. Moran said the state should continue its commitment toward land preservation and conservation.

“The fact is, our challenges are interconnected more than ever before,” Moran said.

Deeds, quoting Scripture several times during his address, said biblically, farmers are natural conservationists at heart. If elected, he said his focus would be on three things - “the economy, the economy, the economy.”

Moran said he would continue to be a strong supporter of Farm Bureau interests. He said he feels “strong” about his message, having spent time in every region of the state “for years.”

“From Fairfax to Galax, we are far more alike than different,” Moran said.

Deeds, despite a financial disadvantage against his two Northern Virginia rivals for the Democratic nomination, said he believes his message is resonating around the state. His advantage, Deeds said, is that he’s been on the ballot in every state precinct, receiving nearly 1 million votes in his close loss for attorney general three years ago to Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, who addressed the convention Monday.

“I’ve got serious challenges ahead of me,” Deeds said. “I’m running against these two guys from Northern Virginia that have access to a lot more cash than I do, and campaigns, to a large extent, are about the money you raise and that affects your ability to get your message out.”