Have you been wondering exactly where the presidential candidates stand on agricultural issues?  The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Farm Foundation, NFP will be hosting a Presidential Forum on Agriculture from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., (central standard time) Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street, in Des Moines, IA.

Nebraska Senator and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns will represent the Romney campaign and former Iowa Lt. Governor and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge will represent the Obama campaign.

"It is a challenging time in agriculture and it is exciting to see the presidential campaigns engage directly on these important issues with leaders from across the country," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, who is the current NASDA President. "This forum will highlight the impact agriculture has on nearly every aspect of our economy.  I encourage voters to tune in and learn more about where each candidate stands on important issues affecting agriculture."

"As a non-advocacy organization, Farm Foundation has an important role in providing this opportunity for voters to learn more about the platforms of the respective candidates," says Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP. "This Forum is an important opportunity to focus on the candidates' attention to the enormous challenges facing the global food system, agriculture and rural communities."

The forum will include opening comments from Johanns and Judge, questions from the moderator and questions from the audience.

Mike Pearson, host of Iowa Public Television's Market to Market, will moderate the forum.  The weekly Market to Market, which airs on PBS stations across the nation, covers the $100+ billion business of food and the issues affecting the 56 million citizens of rural America.

The forum is open to invited guests only. The forum will be streamed live online on Iowa Public Television (IPTV), www.iptv.org.  Viewers watching online can submit questions via Twitter using the hashtag #AgForum.

IPTV will also air the forum at 1 p.m. Sept. 16, and at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 on IPTV WORLD.

The forum will immediately precede the opening of the 2012 NASDA Annual Meeting taking place in Des Moines Sept. 12 to 17.