By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – U.S. Senator Jim Talent is criticizing the Bush administration as unfriendly toward agriculture.
Talent took issue Friday with the president's promised veto of $4 billion in disaster aid for farmers and ranchers.
He also criticized an administration proposal to close Farm Service Agency offices, its agricultural trade policies and its management of the Missouri River.
The Republican senator is in a hotly contested re-election campaign against Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill.
Talent says the Bush administration has been indifferent to agriculture.
He made his remarks during an endorsement pitch to members of the Missouri Farm Bureau. McCaskill turned down an invitation to speak to the group, claiming it rarely backs Democrats.
Later Friday, the Farm Bureau announced its endorsement for Talent.