From Washington with John Block

The corn and soybeans on my farm are growing tall and beautiful. And also important to note, without weeds. Today we use, and have for years, Roundup weed killer, a Bayer Ag product. The most important ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, and it is the most widely used herbicide in the world in growing corn, soybeans, and cotton.

Sunday this week was Father’s Day. I am not sure that the fathers of our children are given the appreciation and respect that they deserve. Of course, I am talking about the fathers that step up and do their share in raising their children.

Just last Monday we celebrated Memorial Day honoring our fighting men and women that have given their lives to protect our country and keep us safe. Then the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was hanging over us. I don’t have the words to express the level of sadness as they bury those children and two teachers. They are all in our prayers.

U.S. farmers have had their foot on the accelerator pushing to get the crops in the ground. Wet and cold weather was a problem for a while, but we are approaching the finish line.

Why don’t we do more to address our fuel problems? We are in the process of planting the 2022 crops. All the reports tell us that there is severe risk of a world food shortage. Solving this problem is not going to be helped by the sky rocketing cost of diesel fuel – a 56% increase.

Here is something proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission that will cost family farms and small business agriculture a lot of time and money. They want to require corporations to report on greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chain.

I have been reading reports that our beef cow numbers on farms and ranches are in a steady decline. That should not be a big surprise given the fact that some of the states that produce the most calves are living with serious drought.

Just back from the farm in Illinois last week. I always love to plant my feet on that rich soil. It was too wet to plant. Hope we can get that corn and bean seed in the ground soon.

I want to talk about pigs. Pork farmers throughout the U.S. were shocked in 2018 when California voters passed Proposition 12. It dictates to California pork producers how to produce their pork.

President Biden announced his proposed $5.8 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year. Now Congress will begin work to change, add and subtract that budget. As always it is a long and difficult road to get it passed. The President wants to increase the Department of Agriculture spending by 9%. That would give us $2.6 billion more than budgeted for this year. His priority is to fill staffing shortages, fund nutrition programs, and climate issues.