As part of the newly launched Rural Reinvestment Task Force, two representatives visited Adel Thursday to hear important perspectives and ideas from various organizations.

Iowa’s Third Congressional District Representative Cindy Axne and Illinois Seventeenth Congressional District Representative Cheri Bustos are co-chairs of the newly created Rural Reinvestment Task Force and heard from multiple organizations including Dallas County Extension, Corteva Agriscience and Practical Farmers of Iowa among other organizations.

The listening session was to hear important ideas and opinions on agriculture, clean energy and environmental sustainability so that the two representatives can take those ideas back to Washington. Some of the issues brought up surrounded being able to purchase E15 fuel all year round as well as the importance of ethanol in the reduction of carbon emissions and replacing fossil fuels as well as building out infrastructure to produce it and the vehicles which are able to burn it.

Other issues discussed was the need for younger farmers as well as ways to help them get involved with farming.

Axne says they started this listening sessions in Iowa because she says this is where agriculture begins and they will take the ideas and opinions back to Washington to help build out the Rural Reinvestment Task Force.