The presidential candidates have been invited by Nelson to hear directly from farmers about solutions to the farm crisis. The meeting would take place before the September 17 Farm Aid concert at the Nissan Pavilion near Washington, D.C.

Nelson was prompted to call on the candidates because of “a crash in commodity prices caused by failed farm policy and increasing corporate concentration in agriculture.”

In addition to the four potential presidents, the members of the House and Senate Agricultural Committees, members of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committees and the House and Senate leadership have been invited to meet.

“It is so bad in farm country that a farmer’s return on a bushel of corn won’t even buy a gallon of gasoline,” Nelson said. “This is why we need members of Congress and the future president to hear from family farmers about how we can work together to ensure that our food continues to be produced in America by our family farmers.”

Hundreds of family farmers are expected at Farm Aid’s 15th concert. The lineup for the Best Buy-sponsored show includes founders Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp along with Barenaked Ladies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Travis Tritt, Sawyer Brown, Arlo Guthrie, North Mississippi Allstars, Jimmy Sturr, and Shannon Curfman, with more artists to be announced.