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…