(Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 18--TWELVE MILE -- House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson met with local farmers Sunday at Scott's Swinery.

Peterson, a Democrat, traveled from Minnesota for the event. He also met with farmers in Evansville Sunday night, and he will travel to Ohio today.

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly joined Peterson at the event. Peterson said the two had worked together in pushing through a multi-billion-dollar farm bill in June in spite of a threatened veto by President Bush, and he urged local farmers to return Donnelly to Washington, saying he needed Donnelly on the Agriculture Committee.

Peterson discussed items on his agenda, such as maintaining the ethanol industry. He said oil companies were not embracing the ethanol business, and he acknowledged that he wasn't a big believer in E-85, an alternative fuel produced here in Cass County.

Peterson said he favored blend pumps that would offer a combination of gas and ethanol. He said hoped to get more cooperation from the oil companies, but he acknowledged that many were still not on board.

Proponents have touted the federally subsidized ethanol industry as an alternative to foreign oil, but critics have said that shifting agricultural commodities into the production of fuel has aggravated a worldwide food shortage.

Turning to other issues, Peterson said he believed that the nation needed a mandatory identification system for livestock. He said he had tried to introduce a bill, but officials began setting up a voluntary system instead.

"I gave up on this two years ago," he said. "We're the only industrialized country in the world without a standardized identification system."

He said the identification system could stop the spread of food-borne illnesses.

"This is something we've got to do," he said.

Logansport farmer Carl Sell said he was impressed with Peterson.

"He's on top of things for a change," he said.

Steve Sullivan, president of the Cass County Farm Bureau, said it felt good to be able to bring up concerns directly to Peterson. He also met with Peterson and Donnelly this year in Washington, D.C.

Sullivan said he liked that Peterson was getting out and talking to farmers.

"He needs to keep in touch with these things," Sullivan said. "Our input is important."

Mayor Mike Fincher agreed.

"He's getting advice from local farmers who walk the walk and talk the talk," Fincher said.

Sullivan said local farmers had many challenges facing them in upcoming months, such as higher property taxes.

Local farmer Ross Fear said he hoped Peterson would continue to push for ethanol and biodiesel.

Peterson said he hoped farmers could find a way to work on issues together, such as renewable energy standards and food vs. fuel.

"One thing we need to do is work together in agriculture," he said.

Melissa Soria may be reached at (574) 732-5143 or via e-mail at Melissa.soria@pharostribune.com

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Ag chair talks to farmers: Ethanol, livestock identification among items on agenda

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