{"id":2644328,"date":"2026-08-13T10:55:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-running-for-iowa-secretary-of-agriculture-says-farming-isnt-that-hard-and-claims-farmers-barely-work\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T11:02:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:02:33","slug":"dem-running-for-iowa-secretary-of-agriculture-says-farming-isnt-that-hard-and-claims-farmers-barely-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-running-for-iowa-secretary-of-agriculture-says-farming-isnt-that-hard-and-claims-farmers-barely-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Dem Running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Says Farming &#8216;Isn&#8217;t That Hard&#8217; and Claims Farmers Barely Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdem-running-for-iowa-secretary-of-agriculture-says-farming-isnt-that-hard-and-claims-farmers-barely-work%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2644328&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An old video clip has surfaced showing Democratic Iowa candidate for Secretary of Agriculture, Chris Jones, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-john-durham-schools-democratic-congressman-on-special-counsel-investigation\/\" title=\"...: John Durham Educates Dem Congressman on Special Counsel Probe\">making controversial remarks<\/a>. In the 2021 footage, Jones described farmers as wealthy individuals who work only a few weeks a year and claimed many are millionaires, suggesting farming isn\u2019t as demanding as portrayed. These <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-senator-couldnt-care-less-about-gas-prices-because-she-drives-electric\/\" title=\"Democrat Senator Couldn\u2019t Care Less About Gas Prices Because She Drives Electric\">comments drew criticism<\/a> from his Republican opponent, Mike Naig, who emphasized that farming is hard work deserving of respect. Critics further pointed out that Jones previously called Iowa farmers \u201cwealthy, older white guys\u201d and suggested his platform includes higher taxes on agriculture inputs, new regulations, and opposition to ethanol, implying he aims to reshape the state&#8217;s farming industry. Jones is characterized on his campaign site as a water quality advocate and retired water science researcher from the University of Iowa. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >controversy highlights tensions surrounding perceptions<\/a> of farming&#8217;s difficulty and attitudes of candidates towards iowa&#8217;s agricultural community.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>An old video clip has resurfaced to haunt the Democratic candidate for secretary of agriculture in Iowa.<\/p>\n<p>In a 2021 video clip, Chris Jones said farmers are wealthy individuals who do not work very much, according to a video <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAFieldReport\/status\/2087185827906417044\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posted to X <\/a>by Iowa Field Report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of this grain farming now, it\u2019s not that hard. They\u2019re only working a few weeks out of the year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese farmers might be industrious, and they might be ingenious, and you know all these other adjectives you want to say about it, but the truth is, you know, a lot of them are millionaires,\u201d Jones added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">New from <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAFieldReport?\">@IAFieldReport<\/a>: Iowa Democrat Chris Jones says farming \u201cisn\u2019t that hard\u201d and says Iowa farmers are \u201conly working a few weeks out of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is on video. This is who wants to be Iowa\u2019s Secretary of Agriculture. \ud83d\udc47 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/iapolitics?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#iapolitics<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nPeNKWduo9\">pic.twitter.com\/nPeNKWduo9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Iowa Field Report.com (@IAFieldReport) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAFieldReport\/status\/2087185826387984664?\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  \u201cThey\u2019re really wealthy guys. They\u2019re making three times as much as the average Iowan,\u201d he said, before repeating his contention that farmers do not need to work much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd a lot of this grain farming now, it\u2019s not that hard. They\u2019re only working a few weeks out of the year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Iowa Field Report said that elsewhere in the 2021 interview, Jones called Iowa farmers \u201cwealthy, older white guys.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The comment brought a response from Republican rival Mike Naig.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you think farming \u2018isn\u2019t that hard,\u2019 and farmers only work a few weeks a year, you have no business being Iowa\u2019s Secretary of Agriculture,\u201d Naig posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MikeNaigIA\/posts\/if-you-think-farming-isnt-that-hard-and-farmers-only-work-a-few-weeks-a-year-you\/1718953993569284\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIowa farmers deserve respect, not insults,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Iowa Field Report later posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1717695822616264\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> that the comment was \u201cnot a one-time slip.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJones has also written that Iowa thanks its farmers \u2018at every turn\u2019 like that\u2019s a problem, and posted that farmers who care about their bottom line and their neighbors\u2019 water safety \u2018begs for regulation,\u2019\u201d the post said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPair that with a platform that includes higher taxes on ag inputs, new farming mandates, and eliminating ethanol, and you\u2019ve got a candidate who doesn\u2019t just look down on Iowa agriculture \u2014 he wants to reshape it,\u201d the post read.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">My family has farmed in Iowa since 1836, so I know what hard work looks like.<\/p>\n<p>Iowa farmers work sunup to sundown to feed and fuel the world. Yet radical environmentalist Chris Jones says it \u201cisn\u2019t that hard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Insulting Iowa farmers while asking for their votes. Brilliant\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rSXa3CezN1\">https:\/\/t.co\/rSXa3CezN1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jeff Kaufmann (@kaufmannGOP) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kaufmannGOP\/status\/2087206848856256577?\">August 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/scottcountydems.org\/chris-jones-2026-iowa-democratic-candidate-secretary-of-agriculture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">site<\/a> for the Scott County Democrats said Jones is a \u201cwater quality advocate and former research engineer who retired in 2023 from the University of Iowa\u2019s IIHR (Institute of Hydraulic Research), where he specialized in water science.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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