Get the Book!
Pigs, Politics, Persistence:
The Life and Legacy of John “Jack” Block

Available now in hardcopy, e-book, or audiobook at www.secretaryblock.com.
Weekly Shows
GM Crops Blessed By the Vatican
August 6 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
Maybe you missed this, but I think it is significant. The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Science has endorsed genetically modified crops. It’s good to have the Pope on our side. The Vatican is…
Health Care Reform
July 30 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
Health Care Reform and Cap and Trade seem to be the only issues in the spotlight here in this town. Maybe that’s appropriate. It looks like the legislation now on the table would…
Horse Slaughter
July 23 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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 grew up riding horses. I love horses. I also grew up raising 4-H calves and pigs. Yes, to me they were pets, but I also knew that they were property and were to be used for a period…
Trade Opportunities
July 16 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
How do we breathe some life into the agriculture economy? About 75 percent of what we produce is sold domestically. The other 25 percent is exported. Maybe we can grow the domestic…
Down on the Farm
July 9 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
Down on the farm in Illinois. That’s where I was this week. We celebrated the 4th of July with a cake decorated like an American flag and watched the fireworks show. That was only…
Tax and Spend
July 2 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
We have a long list of serious problems that the President and Congress need to address. Pointing fingers and blaming President Bush won’t fix anything. If the politicians would…
Venezuela
June 25 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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 read a very interesting article in the Washington Post last week. There is a lesson to be learned if you think about it. The headlines read, “In Venezuela, Land “Rescue” Hopes Unmet.”…
Cap and Trade
June 18 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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— President Obama and the U.S. Congress are putting in the last minute push to pass climate change legislation. The President wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our reliance…
Hard Choices
June 11 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
How many people have gotten into serious financial trouble after running up their credit card debt? How many families borrowed against the equity in their home only to see housing…
Indirect Land Use
June 4 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, 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—
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to rule that “indirect land use†must be considered in calculating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biofuels. The…


