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January 26, 2023
January 26, 2023
Hello, everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the
National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association.
They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural
America. Thank you.
It is time for our government to go to work. The Senate and House both are in the process of
naming who will serve on the different committees. The Republican-led house is scheduled to
take up a GOP energy bill. It will direct the Biden Administration to come up with a plan to
increase oil and gas production on federal land before drawing down our Strategic Petroleum
Reserve anymore. We know President Biden does not want the U.S. to pump more oil. He wants
to buy it from other countries. What will happen? We shall see.
In farm country the need to pass a new farm bill is at the top of our list. Paul Ryan, former House
Speaker speaking at the International Dairy Foods Association Forum last Sunday predicts that
we will pass a new farm bill this year. House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson and
Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow will give us that bipartisan ag leadership
that we need. I am optimistic.
Focus on Mexico. Yes – China is our biggest ag export market, but Mexico is close behind.
Mexico wants to ban imports of genetically modified corn. Our U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack
said that’s not going to happen. Good job Mr. Secretary. Keep the pressure on.
Another subject- the worst avian influenza outbreak we have ever had. The bird flu attack started
about 1 year ago. When you get it, the whole poultry flock must be destroyed. 58 million poultry
in 47 states are gone. Egg farmers are not insured. The virus has been devastating. Protecting the
flocks has not been easy. Wild birds flying North or South just spread it everywhere.
I have not talked about this new subject, but it is in the news every day. We all remember all of
the news and attention focused on secret government documents found at President Trump’s
Mar-a-Lago resort. The national news media was attacking Trump every day. Now President
Biden is in the hot seat. The FBI is investigating. They seem to find secret papers almost
wherever they look. I know some people thought President Trump should be put in jail for his
reckless handling of secret papers. Now they have to think about President Biden’s problem.
Now we have news that former Vice President Pence has some classified papers in his home. I
guess President Trump is not alone.
If you would like to review Jack Block’s radio shows going back more than 20 years, just go
online to www.johnblockreports.com.
Previous Weeks
Down on the Farm
October 17 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I was on the farm this week harvesting soybeans. I left behind all the drama, conflict, gridlock of our nation’s capital. It was such a relief.
The contrast, once again, reminded me that America is divided into two different worlds. Rural…
World Food Prize
October 10 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
All the talk here in Washington, D.C. is about the risk of default and the concern about shutting down the government. I’m not going to try to outline the process that will solve this impasse. However, I do predict that we will not default…
Farm vs. Washington, DC
October 3 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I returned to Washington, D.C. earlier this week from the farm in Illinois. The farm visit, as always, was so refreshing. To escape the political fights and federal government dysfunction helped to clear my head.
First, I believe that the…
Trade Concerns
September 26 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
This week, I was on a panel with three other former Secretaries of Agriculture. The event, sponsored by Croplife, was a lot of fun for those of us on the program and also the audience. Not surprising, the farm bill was in the spotlight.…
Enough is Enough
September 19 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I think it was a surprise to a lot of people when the public in general refused to support an attack on Syria. Never mind the fact Assad used chemical weapons on his own people.
President Obama thought we needed to bomb Syria (and teach…
Crop Insurance
September 12 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
Here is what Bloomberg had to say: “Taxpayers Turn U.S. Farmers into Fat Cats with Subsidies.” They point their finger at crop insurance. They go on to say, “Federal crop insurance encourages farmers to gamble on risky plantings in a…
Trade Protectionism
September 5 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
These are the words of Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) – It is the responsibility of “Congress, not the states” to regulate interstate commerce.
Here is what this is all about. Mr. King offered an amendment to the farm bill which…
GMOs
August 29 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
Perhaps, just perhaps, scientists, world leaders, and the ag community are ready to stand up to the outrageous, unjustified attacks on GM crops. Prime Minister Cameron of the UK said it’s time to acknowledge the value of genetically…
Venezuela
August 22 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I found it fascinating to read a story in the Wall Street Journal this week – front page – about a successful Arkansas rice farmer. The story reads, "His good fortune springs from many roots, including an unlikely one: He is a prime…
Issues on the Table
August 15 2013
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
Here we are in the "dog days of August." Crops are heading towards maturity. They are even harvesting in the South. Our Members of Congress are back in their districts getting an "earful" from their constituents – President Obama is…
