This story was initially revealed by DTN/The Progressive Farmer.
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance has little historical past in agricultural coverage, however at all times had a narrative to inform about rural America.
The nation shortly weighed in Monday on social media, marketing campaign calls and information releases about former President Donald Trump deciding on Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his working mate. All sides provided their reward and grievances over the selection.
Trump, for his half, said on his social platform, “As Vice President, J.D. will proceed to battle for our Structure, stand with our Troops, and can do all the things he can to assist me MAKE AMERICAN GREAT AGAIN.”
The Biden marketing campaign mentioned Vance “will do what Mike Pence wouldn’t do on January 6 (2021).” The assertion added Vance would minimize taxes on “billionaires and companies” on the expense of common People. “As Trump’s working mate, Vance will make it his mission to enact Trump’s Mission 2025 agenda on the expense of American households.”
Vance has little background in agriculture, however he undoubtedly has a rural story. The Ohio senator additionally has a compelling marketing campaign story for People.
At 39 — and turning 40 in early August — Vance can be the youngest vp since Richard Nixon if Trump wins in November.
As Vance’s best-selling guide, “Hillbilly Elegy” particulars, he grew up poor. The total title of the 2016 guide is “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Household and Tradition in Disaster.” Vance wrote about rising up together with his mom who struggled with pharmaceuticals and heroin. Vance spent quite a lot of his childhood being raised by his grandparents.
The guide highlights Vance’s personal willpower for social mobility although he grew up poor. He noticed the decline of the Rust Belt via the small city of Jackson, Kentucky, a city of two,200 folks in Appalachia the place his household had roots, in addition to Middletown, Ohio, the place he spent most of his childhood.
Vance was 19 when he joined the Marine Corp. He served from 2003-07 and served in Iraq in public affairs. He went on to attend Ohio State College and Yale Regulation Faculty. He additionally briefly labored for Silicon Valley enterprise capitalist Peter Thiel earlier than he wrote his guide and commenced a non-profit in Ohio.
Vance has gone from being certainly one of Trump’s critics in 2015-16 to changing into one of many former vp’s most loyal supporters in Congress.
A primary-term senator elected in 2022, Vance to date has not voted on a farm invoice.
When he ran in 2022, Vance was endorsed as a “Pal of Farm Bureau” by the Ohio Farm Bureau’s political motion committee earlier than he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
“Mr. Vance has shortly grasped the problems dealing with Ohio Farm Bureau members and rural Ohio and has made it clear, via his actions, that he cares,” mentioned Invoice Patterson, president of Ohio Farm Bureau in a information launch. “Vance’s philosophical views align with that of our membership and when confronted with a difficulty important for agriculture, J.D. will guarantee we’ve a seat on the desk and ship our message.”
Vance mentioned on the time he can be a fighter for Ohio farmers in Congress.
“After two years of radical Democrat management in Washington, D.C., Ohio agriculture is feeling the ache. Whether or not it’s vitality costs, enter prices, authorities over-regulation, or provide chain points, each Ohioan, particularly farmers, is aware of it’s time to vary course. I’m very grateful for the Ohio Farm Bureau’s endorsement of my marketing campaign, and for the belief they’ve positioned in me to symbolize Ohio within the Senate.”
As early as mid-March, Vance urged in a remark to Brownfield that the farm invoice may have to be prolonged one other 12 months to 2025. Brownfield spoke to Vance throughout a fly-in occasion in Washington with the Ohio Farm Bureau.
“I believe there’s a small probability, yeah, that we might prolong it into 2025, do one other year-long extension after which attempt to type of get the five-year extension carried out in ’25,” Vance informed Brownfield.
With the dearth of motion within the Home and Senate proper now, the possibilities of one other farm-bill extension are rising.
The senator has largely targeted on points apart from agriculture since he took workplace. Vance aligns with Trump in supporting extra tariffs on merchandise from China and different nations.
Vance has been aggressive in his help for laws and proposals to additional construct a wall on the southern border and different laws to cut back unlawful immigration. Vance additionally opposes laws that might permit unlawful immigrants to turn into legalized staff.
That is an space the place agriculture could battle with the Trump agenda as a result of agriculture is without doubt one of the industries that depends on immigrant labor.
In agriculture, Vance is a co-sponsor for the “Defend Farmers from the SEC Act,” which is led by Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. The invoice would prohibit the SEC from requiring disclosure of greenhouse gasoline emissions associated to agricultural merchandise.
Different ag-related payments Vance has co-sponsored:
— AFIDA Enhancements Act: Led by Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, the invoice would tighten reporting disclosures for international buyers in U.S. agriculture.
— Complete Milk for Wholesome Youngsters Act: Sponsored by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, Vance is certainly one of 16 co-sponsors for a invoice that might require faculties to supply complete milk.
— Noticed Lanternfly Analysis and Growth Act: A bipartisan invoice led by Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., the invoice focuses on discovering methods to do away with the pest.
— Beagle Brigade Act: One other bipartisan invoice led by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., it might increase help for canine utilized by the Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) to determine international pests and ailments at ports of entry.
Chris Clayton may be reached at Comply with him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN