VOA标准英语2012--Farm Bill Key Issue on Presidential Campaign Trail in Iowa
时间:2019-01-13 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2012年(八月)
Farm Bill Key Issue on Presidential Campaign Trail in Iowa
A lack of rain and scorching 1 temperatures are taking a toll 2 on eastern Iowa farmer Robb Ewoldt.
On his farm outside Davenport, a creek 3 bed usually flowing with water is almost completely dried up. His grazing pastures are so bare he has to bring in hay and water daily to keep his cows fed.
To make matters worse, some of his corn crop has wilted 4, and Ewoldt is worried that low supply and high prices will impact other parts of his farming operation. “The hog 5 operations are going to be really hurting because they need to feed corn. The poultry 6 is really going to be in a squeeze because that’s all a chicken will eat is corn. And a dairy guy has to feed corn to get his cows to produce a lot of corn," he said.
While campaigning in Iowa, President Barack Obama announced the U.S. government would buy up to $170 million worth of pork, chicken, and lamb to help those producers affected 7 by the drought. Ewoldt views the announcement as a political maneuver 8.
“In the short run it’s going to help us, but to sustain us through what were going to see over the next eight to ten months in these crop prices and our input 9 costs for livestock 10, it’s not going to do much at all," he said.
Ewoldt says what would help are certain benefits provided by the Farm Bill, such as crop insurance. He wants the legislation renewed before it expires to help provide a sense of security amid the drought. “We’re tired of the gridlock. We’re tired of hearing that the Congress, the House and Senate are all locked up, and there’s so much - everybody’s so divided," he said.
“In this part of the country especially, they feel very disconnected from Washington," said Augustana College Political Science Professor Christopher Whitt. He said in Iowa, the drought could determine the November election. “The ways in which the people from the two parties either respond or didn’t respond to the drought, would be a game changer.”
Oklahoma Republican Congressman 11 Frank Lucas, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, hopes lawmakers visiting their districts during the recess 12 will see the impact of the drought, and act to pass the Farm Bill. “I’m counting on farmers and ranchers across the country who are impacted by the drought to remind their members of Congress, that’s what constituents 13 do a wonderful job of, to work with committee to get the job done," he said.
“Hopefully we can get by this bickering 14 and let’s get it done, and let’s do what’s best for the country not what’s best for the parties," said Ewoldt.
In the meantime, what would be best for Ewoldt is more rain, to get the water running through his creek again, and to help the grass grow in his pastures so his cows can eat on their own, without his help.
- a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
- a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评
- The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
- The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。
- He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
- People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
- The flowers wilted in the hot sun. 花在烈日下枯萎了。
- The romance blossomed for six or seven months, and then wilted. 那罗曼史持续六七个月之后就告吹了。
- He is greedy like a hog.他像猪一样贪婪。
- Drivers who hog the road leave no room for other cars.那些占着路面的驾驶员一点余地都不留给其他车辆。
- There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
- What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
- All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后,所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。
- I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。
- I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
- All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。
- Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
- The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。
- He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
- The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
- The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
- Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
- She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
- Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》