Ever since the tariffs have gone on, I’ve been asking those
in agriculture a question. I want to know how they define a win. Now that the
trade negotiations have
ended
,
the question still stands. Did farmers win?
To quote Ronald Reagan, “Are you better off than you were
four years ago?”
Let’s go back four years or even eight. The Obama years were
good for agriculture. Prices were good and the government was too. Obama stayed
out of the way and allowed farmers to develop their own markets. Renewable
fuels were supported and in fact
required
.
Today, we find ourselves in a different place. The relationships
farmers have built are in question. Waivers have been given to oil companies.
Commodity prices are down and expenses are up. And the government has had to go
back to subsidizing farmers.
Which begs the question of whether or not the
nation
is better off now than it was four years ago.
We know that over 28 billion taxpayer dollars have gone to
farmers to make up for lost revenue. We know that China has made a major
investment
in South America. We know that crude oil is more powerful than renewable fuels,
and we know that the price for a bushel of soybeans isn’t up.
So why do farmers take it? Why don’t they take a chance?
Iowa did in
2008
.
They voted for a man with little to no experience in agriculture. Not to
mention one that didn’t fit the model of what people think of when they think
of Iowa. Then in 2012 they did it all over again. Only this time, they knew exactly
what they were getting.
And they were
rewarded
for it. They didn’t have to
rely on federal subsidies. They only had to rely on hard work and good weather.
That and common sense.
Good riding with you.
(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelKFGO.)
