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Candidates weigh Farm Bill changes and exports; tobacco subsidy debate raised
Summary
Both candidates discussed the 1996 Farm Bill (Freedom to Farm), export enhancement programs and whether tobacco should receive subsidies; Leo Yudetz opposed decoupling while Alan Mickelson emphasized export programs.
At the Missoula forum, candidates addressed federal farm policy and subsidy design amid the 1996 Farm Bill debates. Leo Yudetz criticized the bill's move toward decoupling support prices from market prices, saying he was "opposed to the decoupling of the market price from the support price" and favoring protections for family farmers.
Alan Mickelson said he favored strong export enhancement programs to help Montana producers compete internationally and characterized export promotion as essential to keeping farmers viable. "I favor, very strong export enhancement programs," he said, while acknowledging the political complexity of subsidy negotiations.
On tobacco subsidies, both candidates avoided a definitive on-air pledge. Yudetz described tobacco as "a very damaging drug" and said he would "be willing to look at whether they should be subsidized or not," noting the debate's emotional character. Mickelson said he was "not particularly thrilled about tobacco as a crop" but described subsidy decisions as part of larger efforts to support Montana agriculture in negotiations that may require tradeoffs among commodity supports.
Candidates referenced the "Freedom to Farm Act of 1996" as part of the context for the discussion. No formal policy commitments were made on the broadcast; both candidates described competing priorities for protecting family farms and improving export competitiveness.
