Issue Position: Standing up for Tennessee's Farmers
Issue Position
I'm a man of faith, I'm a tested CEO, and I'm a product of rural Tennessee.
I'm running for governor because I believe Tennessee can be an even better place to live, especially our rural communities. And I believe I know how to lead that change.
I know our agricultural community is crucial to the well-being of our state, and I'm thankful for the privilege to discuss these critical issues with you. You can watch my video here, or read my answers to your questions below.
What is your philosophy regarding individual property rights?
As producers, we depend on our land more than any other industry. If our rights are curtailed or our tax rate changes, we can't just pick up and move. We have to bear those costs.
That's why it's so crucial that we don't compromise on our individual property rights, and that we understand those rights to include the right to work your land and earn the value of your labor.
It's why we have to defend and protect our state's Right-to-Farm law, which provides key protections for our farmers to continue doing what they've always done: produce.
It's why proposals like a statewide property tax should be rejected, and it's why we have to be vigilant in ensuring landowners' rights are protected against efforts to annex and impose new taxes on their property.
Now we know that government has their role and that bad actors should be addressed. But far too often, government regulators look to enforce or create new rules with little knowledge of the real challenges we face as farmers. It's why one of my key objectives as your governor would be to bring more agricultural experience into our state agencies.
As farmers, our land is our livelihood. It's part of who we are, and you will no group more committed to taking care of our land and streams than our farming community, a community who is looking to preserve our way of life for the next generation.
Farm income is down 50% from 2013. As Governor, what would you do to help stimulate economic returns for Tennessee farmers?
We need a renewed commitment to our agriculture economy. Whether it is economic development or education, we could do much more to support a major segment of our economy.
I know that when our farmers do well, we all do well. Which is why as Governor, I'll strengthen our Ag Enhancement program, a program that has helped thousands of producers adapt to changing market conditions. Whether it is improving the process for approval of our grants, or supporting new technology innovations, we have to continue investing in this valuable program for agriculture.
My vision for Tennessee is for us to be a leader in agricultural innovation. Our nation is on the cusp of a radical acceleration in Ag-tech. With the right support, I believe we can make Tennessee a leader in the types of technology that can revolutionize production and keep our industry strong.
Farmers are unable to pass on input cost placed on them in the form of regulations. Often, the regulations imposed on farmers are for the benefit of society. As Governor, how would you help fairly assess the cost of regulations to the population segment receiving the benefit?
Our government shouldn't be in the business of picking winners and losers. Unfortunately, regulations and the cost of those regulations often mean we are putting producers at a disadvantage to serve some other group.
We should make the cost-benefit analysis of regulations more transparent and reflective of who bears most of the impact. When we find--which we will in most cases--that the producer bears a disproportionate share of the impact we have a responsibility to look for alternatives or find new, creative ways to reduce the impact.
It's why I believe it is critical for us to put more agricultural experience into our state regulatory agencies, and to ensure that these agencies have a complete picture of the agriculture supply chain before taking action.
Tennessee faces a shortage of meat processing facilities. What are your thoughts on finding efficient and cost-effective ways of increasing the availability of USDA inspected facilities?
For years, we sent three animals a week to Paris, TN for our meat processing. It's a two hour trip with a cost and burden that led us to explore doing our own processing. But the regulatory and cost burdens of doing so took that decision off the table for us.
There's no doubt that Tennessee faces a shortage of processing capacity. The options once offered by local plants are harder to find. And most producers wonder if they will have consistent access to a facility.
We have to keep looking for new ways to reduce the regulatory burden, add new opportunities for quality inspection, and facilitate new innovations to reduce the processing backlog.
There are emerging opportunities that we should take a hard look at. For instance, 27 other states (including our neighbors in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi) provide their own USDA-quality state inspections under a federal program recently expanded under the 2008 Farm Bill. And at the state level, new legal developments have expanded the capacity for exempt custom slaughterhouses to deliver meat to a broader customer base like co-ops or local buyers' clubs. Both of these options have potential to provide market-based alternatives to the status quo.
As Governor, I'd look at these and any new opportunities to reduce the regulatory burden and encourage innovative solutions to our shortage of meat processors.
Right-to-Farm Laws provide a valuable safety net protecting farmers from nuisance complaints. What are your thoughts on our Right-to-Farm Law?
We've seen how strategic litigation has been used to chip away at our state's Right-to-Farm law. And as we enter a time when land is becoming more scarce, it has become that much more critical that we set a clear legal protection for our farmers.
Lawsuits that seek to stop farmers from doing what they've always done represent a threat to basic property rights, and I believe that we must continue to defend those rights whenever possible. As governor, I'll remain committed to defending our Right-to-Farm law.
Rural residents lag the rest of the nation when it comes to use of high-speed Internet connections. Modern precision farm equipment includes technology requiring connectivity. As Governor, what are your plans for accelerating deployment of quality and affordable broadband to farms and other rural areas?
At our farm, we use satellite internet, not broadband. And while we don't get cell signal at our farm, if you drive out to the end of our main road you might get a single bar of service.
Because of where we live, we are one of the 800,000 Tennesseans who lack access to broadband. With 34 percent of rural Tennessee residents missing quality broadband access, we know that far too many farmers are currently missing a key tool for their operation.
Over the next decade, technology solutions will become even more critical to production. And I'll lead a new commitment to rural broadband connectivity to ensure that we can compete in the global food market.
We'll target new technologies like fixed wireless, and we will break down the barriers that keep providers from expanding in our communities. Instead of sitting across the table, I'll bring our public and private entities together around the table develop real solutions and execute my vision of a connected Tennessee.
Farmers provide 75% of the food, habitat, and cover for wildlife. Currently, there is one statutorily designated farmer member on the 13 voting-member Fish and Wildlife Commission. Farm Bureau policy supports having a full-time farmer for each grand division of the State. What are your thoughts on statutorily adding two additional farmer members?
Our farmers are an integral part of the conversation around wildlife management. We know the land about as well as anybody, and having a voice for farmers on the Fish and Wildlife Commission would benefit our entire state. The Commissioner of Agriculture currently serves on the board, and I think bringing in additional voices from the agriculture community would only strengthen the conversation. I'd support it.
Farm Bureau policy supports a regional staff as well as a state director for the FFA, the integral youth leadership component of the agricultural education CTE program. All four positions are now in place. Are you committed to keeping these positions funded and staffed, and as Governor what are your goals for CTE?
It's a talking point for a lot of politicians, but vocational, technical, and agricultural education has been my life.
I showed cattle in 4-H. My children showed cattle in 4-H. And I hope my grandchildren will have the same opportunity. At Lee Company, we have partnered with the public school system, and have been absolutely committed to promoting and developing careers in the trades. We even endowed a scholarship to encourage greater participation in our local 4-H.
So at a time when young farmers and ranchers are becoming harder to come by, I know that agriculture must be a key component of our vision for education.
Over the last two decades, FFA and 4-H have faced a decreasing share of time and resources in Tennessee. At the same time, our neighboring states Georgia and Kentucky have devoted more resources and have seen their membership grow as a result.
As your governor, I will remain committed to expanding vocational, technical, and agricultural education in Tennessee, and I will put the resources in place to fully support our agricultural students and teachers with partners like 4-H and FFA. We'll also continue to invest and support adult training programs. And we will everything we can to keep the next generation engaged in our way of life.
The Tennessee State Fair tradition dates to 1855. For more than a decade the Tennessee State Fair has been hampered by aging facilities and minimal improvement due mainly to the uncertainty of the long-term future of the location. What is your vision for strategically planning a path forward for the Tennessee State Fair?
It's time for a new vision for the State Fair.
While the city of Nashville is moving in a new direction with different priorities, that doesn't mean we have to lose our traditions. We had 100 great years in Nashville, but I believe with the right leadership we can set ourselves up for an even better future.
A change in location can be an opportunity to think bigger about our goals. With an enthusiastic partner, we can craft a vision for a year-round calendar of events for our agricultural community. We can develop a venue for association meetings, youth development, competitions, seminars and learning opportunities for producers.
As your governor, I'd be 100% committed to pursuing a vision that brings our agricultural stakeholders together for a long-term development, building, and maintenance plan for the State Fair.
Government ownership of land shifts the tax burden to private landowners. The federal government owns 1.2 million acres or 4.8% of Tennessee and the State owns approximately 3.1% of manageable lands. What factors do you believe should be considered when adding additional properties to state ownership?
Whenever possible I'd like to avoid government taking on excess ownership of usable land. The state ownership of land can certainly have the unintended consequence of discouraging productive uses, and my top priority is how we make the best use of the land. I believe that in the vast majority of cases that will be under the ownership and management of private owners.
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