Iowa 3^rd District Congressman David Young and IA Ag Secretary Mike Naig were in Atlantic, Friday afternoon for a tour of the new Elite Octane Ethanol Plant, as part of their “Harvest Tour” across southwest Iowa. They started at Landess Co-Op in Yale and proceeded to a cattle feedlot near Fontanelle, before their stop in Atlantic. Prior to his visit, Naig spoke with KJAN News. He said they’re “Working their way through the supply chain and checking on folks as they’re progressing through the Fall, and the harvest is well underway. Naig spoke of the challenges farmers have been facing.

Naig said also, there’s a lot of work that gets done after the crop is in the bin. Livestock producers have a lot of work ahead of them as well.

The prices crop producers get for their product and the market for those products have been a top concern for people Naig has spoken with, especially he says, with regard to the impact of trade embargoes and the stalled Farm Bill.

Naig said it’s certain no action will be taken on the Farm Bill until after the election on Nov. 6^th, but there’s still hope.

As far as the election is concerned, Naig said he’s tried to get out and convey a positive vision to the voters, as opposed to his opponents’ negative campaign ads.

His Democrat opponent is Tim Gannon. Libertarian Party candidate Rick Stewart is also in the running to Iowa’s next Secretary of Agriculture, but Naig didn’t mention him in his time speaking with KJAN News.