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Another very successful year of Farmfest Forums has come and gone. After Farmfest is over, it is interesting to look back and see what nuggetsare the take-home messages from the various forums. These are my thoughts after the 2008 Farmfest forums:

• The U.S. Senate candidate’s forum on agriculture and rural issues highlighted day one of Farmfest, with an estimated 1,200 people in attendance – one of the largest attended Farmfest forums ever. This forum was the first time that U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R), and his main challenger, Al Franken (D), were together in a forum or debate. They were joined by two Independent party candidates: former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley and Steve Williams. This forum garnered a considerable amount of statewide media coverage, and drew a wide-range of analysis from those covering Minnesota politics. Energy issues in the U.S. and how to best address them was the key theme. There was also discussion of the recently passed farm bill, world trade agreements and U.S. immigration policy.

• The Congressional candidates forum on agriculture and rural issues was also held on the first day of Farmfest, and was also very well attended. Incumbent Congressmen Collin Peterson and Tim Walz provided numerous highlights of the new farm bill passed earlier this year. Congressman Peterson chaired the U.S. House Ag Committee that was key in writing the new farm bill, and Congressman Walz was a member of that Committee. Congressional candidates Brian Davis and Dick Day from the First District, Steve Sarvi from the Second District, Elwyn Tinklenberg from the Sixth District and Glen Menze from the Seventh District, all applauded many of the provisions in the new farm bill, but also pointed out some things that could be improved in the legislation. The low profitability in the livestock industry and rapidly rising input costs for crop producers were also discussed. Future U.S. energy policy also garnered considerable discussion.

• Another highlight of day one at Farmfest was a keynote address by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. This again resulted in considerable media coverage, given the Governor’s national prominence relative to the 2008 presidential election. The Governor re-enforced the prominent role that Minnesota is playing nationally related to the development of alternative energy sources. He also emphasized the importance of a strong agriculture industry to future economic growth in the state.

• The morning forum on day two of Farmfest was a unique opportunity to hear the presidents of the two major farm organizations in the U.S. on the same forum panel. Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau president and a family farm operator from Texas, and Tom Buis, National Farmers Union president and a family farmer from Indiana, were joined by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar to discuss key ag policy issues. The impact of rising fuel prices on U.S. citizens and on the agriculture industry, the need for a comprehensive U.S. energy policy and renewable energy were discussed extensively. The recently passed new farm bill, implementation of new farm programs, the future of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and world trade agreements were among other issues that were discussed.