Left to Right:  Republican Sue Ellspermann, Libertarian Brad Klopfenstein, Democrat Vi Simpson (WIBC.com photo: Reed Parker)

The three candidates for Lt. Governor participated in a debate on agricultural issues Wednesday at the Indiana State Fair.

The candidates were first asked about continuing international trade for the state's agriculture industry, and Libertarian Brad Klopfenstein says he believes the Agriculture Secretary needs to be a clearinghouse of ideas to bring public and private sectors together to reach out to international markets to showcase the state.

Republican candidate Sue Elspermann says trade missions over the last several years have proven successful, and she says she believes the food and agriculture innovation corridor will lead to new export opportunities across the world. Democratic candidate Vi Simpson complemented Lt. Governor Becky Skillman's work in increasing Indiana's export business and would continue in that direction if she's elected.

Elspermann was asked about the Biocrossroads program, which she says she would work with Purdue and other entities in a public-private partnership. Simpson says she supports the program, but stated her misgivings of publicly funding the pgoram. Klopfenstein says he shared Simpson's concerns about funding the program, and also worried about any possible unneeded regulations for farmers.

There are no other scheduled debates for the three candidates.