Barack details rural development policy

Barack Obama released details of his rural development policy Tuesday promising aid to small farms and support for biofuels and organic farming.

"We must be vigilant to ensure that we do this in a sustainable fashion so that land and water resources are conserved," Obama said.

Here are some of the key points of Obama's rural plan:

A $250,000 limit on subsidies to farmers and strict environmental standards for large livestock operations.

Creation of new cost-sharing programs to help farmers get certification as organic farmers, and revamping crop insurance programs to avoid penalizing organic producers.

A goal of a 50 percent increase in the economy's energy efficiency by 2030.

A change to allow small businesses to pool together to offer health insurance for workers, with subsidies for those who can't afford it. Also, overhaul the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement system that can penalize rural areas.

In July, Obama released his plan to tackle urban poverty.


Major Owens endorses Obama

Former Congressman and Brooklyn leader Major Owens has endorsed Barack Obama going against the local Democratic Party, which endorsed Hillary Clinton on the previous day. In a statement, Owens says:

"Obama stands for the concerns of the masses in the black community who have been let down by the broken promises of past leadership. Our leadership on both sides of the aisle has continued to fail us by supporting the war in Iraq and by standing by while poverty, disparities in our healthcare system and lack of affordable education opportunities for young people weaken our communities. It is time to shake loose from the past and Senator Obama’s record shows that he will deliver on his promise to stand up for us in the White House.”