Opinion: Presidential race a real grind

The daily election grind through 50 states and every radio, print and television network seems somewhat omnipresent for all US citizens and residents.

This is the first Presidential election campaign I've witnessed since moving to the US, and with around 270 days still remaining until voters step out to the polls, it is understandable how all-consuming (and exhausting) this race is for many Americans.

While agriculture is yet to feature heavily on the campaign trail, there is no doubt that 2016 will play host to many critical debates for the $790 billion agriculture sector.

So, what does it all mean for agriculture in America and further afield?

It is not an easy question to answer nine months out from election day as all candidates seem unable, or unwilling, to drive through the 'fog' of fellow-candidate character assassination, prevailing at present.

However, regardless of the relentless election campaign, there is still some sign of life in the US congress and the White House, with key issues still being debated.

While President Barack Obama is keen to see the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) passed through congress before his Presidential term expires, this will not be an easy road.

There is some opposition to parts of the agreement which involves multi-lateral trade deals with Australia, Canada and big players in Asia and South America, despite the solid base of support which the TPP enjoys in congress.

Also, US agriculture was disappointed, Obama enacted what was only the seventh veto of his term where he quashed the Congressional Review Act resolution that invalidated the final Waters of The US (WOTUS) Rule.

The three-year fight around WOTUS has been intense, with many of us in US agriculture arguing that, in the hands of the Environmental Protection Agency, the rule allows significant government overreach.

Immigration is another key policy debate for agriculture, with access to a reliable, plentiful and of course legal workforce being paramount to thousands and thousands of agricultural businesses.

And finally, while these and other policy issues remain important to the economic wellbeing (or recovery) of the United States, the debate around gun control is never far away.

While Obama has committed to pushing this issue until his term expires, the resistance to such efforts is so strong the possibility of any gun control is likely well out-of-reach.

Even suggestions of tightening the laws around background checks are met with swift opposition, as the gun lobby opposes anything that infringes on their constitutional rights.

The second Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1791, protects the rights of individuals to keep and bear arms.

Still, the horror felt by the country over the continued mass shootings has led many moderate gun owners in the US to say they are very willing to accept responsible measures designed to keep guns out of the hands of those that should not have them.

Australia's experience with gun control gets discussed in the US media in this context.

So, not surprisingly, gun laws remain a hot topic in the Presidential race, with each candidate required to clearly anunciate their policy position.

With quotable one-liners the order of the day, billionaire and presidential hopeful Donald Trump recently chose to connect his popularity with the gun debate, saying that "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters".

The fact that such a statement did not immediately scuttle Trump's run for the presidential candidacy is a perfect example as to just how wildly unusual this election is for the US.

David Inall is senior vice president of United Egg Producers in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Prior to 2013 he spent seven years in Canberra as Cattle Council of Australia chief executive officer, having previously worked with Meat and Livestock Australia, Livecorp and the NSW dairy industry.