All this week Minnesota Public Radio is taking an in-depth look at the issues in the political campaigns. The men and women elected to the United States House and Senate this year will play a critical role in shaping farm policy. The federal legislation they'll pass dictates payments to the nation's two million farmers and outlines loan rates and marketing strategies. Many farmers will say these issues aren't being actively debated in the political arena this year because their power as a voting block has faded. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland reports: