On ag subsidies

I am for smaller government and I am a fiscal conservative.

? The mission statement of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has, in part, to insure a safe, affordable and abundant food supply for the people. To insure the abundant food supply in every year, good weather and bad, implies that we will have a surplus in most years.

? The U.S. government also has a cheap food policy. It is not possible to have cheap, surplus food every year without government intervention.

These policies mean that the market cannot function properly. American farmers, in order to survive, must get part of their income from the government and part from the market. This is the farm marketplace that I must compete in to survive.

My position has always been that American agriculture should be more market-based and not as dependent on government. I have worked with the agricultural industry and Sen. Max Baucus to get free trade agreements and expanded markets for American agriculture.

When in office, I will support less government involvement when possible and prudent. I believe in letting the marketplace work, not having government pick the winners and losers.

Bruce Tutvedt

Republican candidate

Senate District 3