John Block Reports from Washington

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.

And now for today’s commentary –

Earlier this week, I was on the farm in Illinois, and I want to talk to you about that.

I had a chance to meet and talk to neighbors and friends, and I always ask them about their concerns.

They want the politicians in Washington to get to work dealing with some of the nation’s problems. They have heard so much about collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice, and they are sick of it. Special Counsel Robert Muller’s report of 448 pages after two years found no collusion with Russia by our President or any other American citizen. It is over, and they didn’t even mention obstruction of justice. Concerns out here in the heartland focus on low prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, even dairy. Farmers want an end to the trade disputes. We are not happy about new restrictions on Cuba. Trade will suffer. Also, on Easter Sunday, they were praying for some good weather. Because of the late spring, planting has been delayed. I will remind everyone that if we do get a break in the weather, our industry is good at what we do. We will put that corn in the ground.

On another subject – the crisis on our Southern border is not going away. Now, we have civilian militia groups patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border. There are so many illegals crashing the border that ICE and the military can’t stop the flow. Not that we don’t need legal immigration. Here in rural America, the support for border security is close to unanimous.

And the last priority out here in the nation’s heartland is infrastructure – roads, bridges, rivers, locks and dams, etc. This is a national need that Republicans and Democrats should be able to work on together.

Here on the Block farm, we are ready to start the planting, weather permitting. Our hogs are healthy and happy. Since the African Swine Fever cut Chinese hog production, our pork prices have jumped up. Even with the low grain prices, farmland prices are holding steady. The farming business is full of uncertainty. There is so much that we can’t control. But I love it.

I am John Block, just back from the farm. If you would like to review my radio shows going back more than 20 years, just go on-line to www.johnblockreports.com.